The remastered version of The Last of Us 2 for PC arrived with much anticipation. After the first part's rocky launch on PC, a leap in technical quality was expected. However, tests indicate that the new edition still falls short of ideal performance—and in some respects, even behind the performance of the PlayStation 4, released in 2013.
- GTA 5 returns to Xbox Game Pass in April
- Japan will have an exclusive version of the Nintendo Switch 2 with region locking
Digital Foundry's detailed analysis reveals that the game's performance on PC presents worrying inconsistencies. According to the study, an RTX 3060 graphics card—with 3.5 times the processing power of the PS4—can't double the frame rate achieved on the last-generation console.
PC port faces unexpected technical limitations
The technical survey shows that GPU usage on PC is disproportionate. The tested version experiences crashes, sudden performance drops, and even temporary freezes without warning, directly affecting the player's experience. However, even with maximum settings, there are issues such as shadows appearing abruptly, breaking the immersion.
In a direct comparison with the PS4, the PC version fails to take advantage of the available hardware power. Digital Foundry reports that, even at similar resolutions and equivalent settings, the PC version doesn't offer a significant improvement. This is considered an exception in the history of ports analyzed by the group.
Furthermore, the stability of the backwards compatible version of The Last of Us Part II on PlayStation 5—which runs the PS4 Pro title—surpasses that of PC. The contrast is striking, especially considering the remaster's promise of a visual leap.
Frustrated expectations even after improvements compared to the first game
Despite being technically superior to the PC version of The Last of Us 1, which was heavily criticized for serious flaws at launch, the new edition still doesn't reach the standard expected of big-budget games. The lack of proper optimization weighs against the title, requiring players to manually adjust the game to avoid an experience inferior to that offered on a console over a decade old.
For users investing in more powerful hardware, the disappointment is even greater. The promise of graphical fidelity and fluid performance runs into technical limitations that shouldn't exist at this stage. The port, while functional, still requires refinement to satisfy the franchise's fan base.
Game behavior reinforces warning about optimizations in PC releases
The case of The Last of Us 2 reignites the debate about the quality of computer game adaptations. Even with available technology and a demanding player base, many titles continue to be released without proper polish. The result is inconsistent experiences, dependent on consumers' willingness to work around flaws with tweaks and patience.
Future updates are expected to fix the instabilities and improve overall performance. In the meantime, users planning to play on PC should reconsider their expectations—and perhaps revisit the PS4 as a more reliable option for reliving Ellie and Abby's journey.
