The remastered version of The Last of Us Part II for PC arrived surrounded by high expectations. After the troubled launch of the first part on PC, a leap in technical quality was expected. However, tests indicate that the new edition still falls short of ideal — and, in some aspects, even lags behind the performance on the PlayStation 4 released in 2013.
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A detailed analysis by Digital Foundry reveals that the game's performance on PC exhibits worrying inconsistencies. According to the survey, an RTX 3060 graphics card — with 3.5 times the computing power of the PS4 — cannot double the frame rate achieved on the previous generation console.
The PC port faces unexpected technical limitations
Technical analysis shows that GPU usage on the PC is disproportionate. The tested version exhibits crashes, sudden performance drops, and even temporary freezes without warning, directly affecting the player's experience. However, even with maximum settings, there are problems such as shadows appearing abruptly, breaking immersion.
In 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 does not offer a significant improvement. This is considered an exception in the history of ports analyzed by the group.
Furthermore, the stability displayed in the backward compatible version of The Last of Us Part II on PlayStation 5 — which runs the PS4 Pro title — surpasses that of the PC. The contrast is striking, especially considering the promise of a visual leap with the remaster.
Expectations were dashed even after improvements over the first game
Despite being technically superior to the PC version of The Last of Us Part 1, which was heavily criticized for serious flaws at launch, the new edition still doesn't reach the expected standard for high-budget games. The lack of proper optimization weighs against the title, requiring the player to make manual adjustments to avoid an experience inferior to that offered on a console that's over a decade old.
For users who invest in more powerful hardware, the disappointment is even greater. The promise of graphical fidelity and smooth performance is hampered by technical limitations that shouldn't exist at this stage. The port, while functional, still requires refinement to satisfy the franchise's fanbase.
Game behavior reinforces warning about optimizations in PC releases
The case of The Last of Us Part II 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 polishing. The result is inconsistent experiences, dependent on the consumer's willingness to work around flaws with adjustments and patience.
The expectation now is that future updates will fix the instabilities and improve overall performance. In the meantime, users who intend to play on PC should reconsider their expectations — and perhaps revisit the PS4 as a more reliable option to relive Ellie and Abby's journey.