The highly anticipated sequel, The Last of Us Part II, may be receiving an enhanced version specifically for the PlayStation 5 (PS5) in the near future. Composer Gustavo Santaolalla hinted at the development of “new editions” of the game at Naughty Dog during a recent interview. According to the Spanish-language website Vandal, the new version will allow players to control Santaolalla’s character and have him play certain songs. This feature could potentially be implemented as mini-games, similar to how players could cycle through notes to have Ellie play various songs in the original version.
For those unfamiliar, Santaolalla’s character made a brief appearance in the original PS4 version of The Last of Us Part II. He played the banjo silently in the bustling Jackson City, sitting beside his dog on a rocking chair. Santaolalla, an Argentine musician, contributed multiple tracks to the original 2013 game as well as the recent HBO television adaptation, which explains his cameo appearance. It should be noted that Naughty Dog, the developer, has not made any official announcements regarding the alleged PS5 version mentioned in the report. Although the divisive sequel received a PS5 performance patch in 2021 to improve the framerate to 60fps, it appears the studio is seeking to further enhance the game’s experience.
Reports from last year suggested that Naughty Dog was working on a director’s cut for The Last of Us Part II. If true, this is likely how the game will be ported to PC gamers. In the past, Naughty Dog released a remake of the first installment of The Last of Us on PC, approximately six months after its PS5 release in August 2022. This release pattern may be repeated, as Sony PlayStation typically prioritizes its own console before expanding to other platforms.
Developing PS5 versions of recently released games is not uncommon for the publisher. Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima, for example, received “Director’s Cuts.” Given the success of The Last of Us on HBO, which garnered 24 Emmy nominations, an improved PS5 version of the game seems entirely plausible.
Typically, these new versions offer improved visuals, performance, and additional accessibility features. This allows developers to capitalize on a game’s sales by providing an enhanced experience for players. Neil Druckmann, who will soon take sole leadership of Naughty Dog, has not disclosed details about his next single-player narrative and has not commented on The Last of Us Part III.
Recently, Naughty Dog scaled down development on The Last of Us multiplayer game in response to concerns raised by Destiny maker Bungie regarding the game’s ability to maintain player engagement over extended periods. Furthermore, the budget for The Last of Us Part II was revealed during the Microsoft v US FTC trial to be $220 million, with approximately 200 full-time employees working on the project.
The Last of Us Part II is currently available on both the PS4 and PS5 platforms.
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Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
