PlayStation Australia is excited to announce The Last of Us Part II Remastered, the definitive way to experience the acclaimed The Last of Us sequel originally released in 2020. Players can jump into Ellie and Abby’s emotional journeys on the PlayStation 5 console on January 19, 2024.

Whether you have already played and even platinumed The Last of Us Part II on the PlayStation 4 console or have recently played The Last of Us Part I on PS5 and want to continue the story, Part II Remastered will offer plenty of reasons for new and returning players to revisit. The engrossing campaign returns alongside technological improvements, new modes, and new behind-the-scenes features that will deepen players’ understanding of Part II’s creation. But before we break down what’s in store, take a look at our announcement trailer here.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is designed to let players dig deeper into both its development and mechanics. Chief among these is a brand-new mode called No Return, a roguelike survival mode designed to let players prove their mettle in randomised encounters and experience The Last of Us Part II’s combat in a fresh experience.

The mode includes a host of playable characters to choose from – some playable for the first time in The Last of Us franchise (which players may have spotted in the trailer) – who each come with their own traits to suit different playstyles. Players will chart their own course on each run, choosing between various stealth and combat encounters that will pit players against a range of enemies, with unique twists that can add new, unexpected factors to any given encounter.

Each run will offer a new chance to decide what rewards you get after each encounter, how you spec out your character, and more. Unlock more characters, skins, and more as players progress to use in the mode, customise your own runs, and compete on a global leaderboard as part of a Daily Run**. We’re excited to share more about No Return as we get closer to launch.

For those who have already played The Last of Us Part II, the included sections featuring a playable guitar were a favourite for many. A new Guitar Free Play mode has been introduced, which will let players strum the strings across a host of unlockable instruments, use audio FX pedals to modulate your performance, and play as different characters in several in-game locations to customise the mood and feel of the set.

And for both new and returning players interested in learning more, Part II Remastered offers a comprehensive dive behind-the-scenes of how the Naughty Dog studio brought this game to life. A new set of Lost Levels in Part II Remastered allow players a unique chance to check out some playable sequences previously cut from the game. These aren’t fully finished levels, but rather early-development slices that not only let players see some new glimpses of Part II’s world, but also include embedded developer commentary to give them richer context. Explore these spaces and hear directly from the team about the intention of aspects of each level – this is a unique inclusion for the Naughty Dog studio and will allow players a glimpse into the creative process.

Included is also a newly recorded director’s commentary across the campaign’s cutscenes from director Neil Druckmann, narrative lead Halley Gross, and actors Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Laura Bailey. They assembled to offer insight into the story and its characters that mean so much to both the Naughty Dog team and fans.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered will feature enhanced graphics, including native 4K output* in Fidelity Mode, 1440p upscaled to 4K* in Performance Mode, an Unlocked Framerate option for TVs that support VRR, increased texture resolution, increased Level-of-Detail distances, improved shadow quality, animation sampling rate, and more. It all brings the world of Part II’s story to life in richer and smoother detail, from the snow-swept mountains of Jackson, Wyoming to the rainy cityscape of Seattle, Washington, and should make a first visit or a return trip to the complex journeys of Ellie and Abby all the more engrossing.

Part II Remastered takes advantage of the PS5’s power and features in more ways as well, including improved loading times. Part II Remastered also incorporates DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback and adaptive triggers integration to better immerse you in every moment of combat and exploration.

PlayStation ensured Part II’s award-winning suite of accessibility options returns for the PS5 experience, alongside new additions like the inclusion of Descriptive Audio and Speech to Vibrations, which uses the DualSense controller to indicate character speech and cadence. The unlockable Speedrun Mode, included in The Last of Us Part I, will also be coming to Part II Remastered, allowing players to post their best times. Following The Last of Us Part I, The Last of Us Part II Remastered includes the ability to unlock bonus skins for Ellie, Abby, and their weapons that we’re excited for players to see and take some incredible Photo Mode shots with. Players can get a first look at some in our announcement trailer. Naughty Dog has also made some additions that players of The Last of Us Part I may be familiar with, including dynamic lighting, Frame Forward, and Gaze Direction, as well as new frame and logo options.

And good news for existing owners of The Last of Us Part II on PlayStation 4! Players will be able to upgrade to a digital version of The Last of Us Part II Remastered for $20 AUD*** at launch****. You will also be able to import your saves from the original game to Part II Remastered.

PlayStation are excited to share more with the community about The Last of Us Part II Remastered as we get closer to its release on PlayStation 5 on January 19! Preorders will go live on December 5.

*4K resolution requires a compatible 4K TV or display.
**Internet connection required to compete in Daily Run.
***Price shown in AUD currency and may vary by country. Check PS Store at launch on January 19, 2024 for local pricing.
****Upgrades for disc copies of the PS4 version of The Last of Us Part II are only available if you have a PlayStation 5 console with a disc drive. Owners of PS4 disc copies must insert them into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital version.

For full information on The Last of Us Part II Remastered visit PlayStation.com.