The Last of Us Part 2's Ultimate Remaster: Unveiling Every Hidden Gem
The potential leaked remaster of The Last of Us Part 2 could be the final breaking point for disgruntled fans, as the franchise may no longer have the luxury of hiding behind remakes or remasters until the release of PlayStation 6
Highlights
The Last of Us franchise's popularity can be attributed to its quality, despite there being only two games released with a large gap between them.
Players have consistently obtained The Last of Us across different console generations, and the most recent version is a remake exclusively for the PS5. The possibility of a remastered edition of The Last of Us Part 2 might be perceived as redundant, potentially disappointing fans seeking fresh content.
The popularity of The Last of Us is not surprising due to its high quality, but rather because there have only been two games released in its franchise so far, with nearly a decade between each one. It may not seem like there have only been two The Last of Us installments because fans have been eagerly anticipating remasters of the game on every console generation since its initial release. The most recent version of this was an actual remake, enhancing the graphics and performance to match the quality of the PS5, making it similar to The Last of Us Part 2.
The graphical fidelity and technical performance of The Last of Us Part 2 surpasses that of the original, thanks to the advancements in console hardware since the PS3. Regardless, fans have had multiple opportunities to play the original game on the PS3, PS4, or PS5. According to a recent developer leak, it appears that The Last of Us Part 2 is also receiving its own remaster, which may be difficult for Naughty Dog to justify and could potentially push fans to become tired of the repeated nature of The Last of Us.
The Last of Us Part 2’s Leaked Remaster May Be the Last Straw
The announcement of The Last of Us' remake sparked intense debate among fans. Many argued that the game didn't actually require a remake, as previous remasters had already brought it up to date. While the remake undoubtedly boasts improved hyperrealistic visuals, it seemed like there was little else that could be updated to justify repackaging and reselling the game. The Last of Us remains a beloved franchise with immense potential, but fans have yet to see Naughty Dog truly explore new avenues beyond repeatedly re-releasing the same game with minor visual enhancements.
That’s why The Last of Us Part 2’s potential remaster is even more unfortunate—the sequel was only released three years ago and while it could arguably be improved with a remaster exclusive to PS5, fans would be paying for a remaster that the original already makes obsolete. If Naughty Dog continues to value re-releases and not new experiences, it could end up hurting the fanbase.
The Last of Us Won’t Be Able to Hide Behind Another Remaster/Remake Until PS6
The Negative Consequences of Prioritizing Remasters over New Experiences
Releasing a remake for The Last of Us Part 2 would only serve as the sole advantage for Naughty Dog. Once released, the developer would no longer have any other material from the IP to rely on until the next PlayStation console. It is highly likely that Naughty Dog and PlayStation will attempt to recycle the IP in every console generation. However, without any other material to remaster or remake, it is hoped that this would push Naughty Dog to focus on creating fresh content instead.
Naughty Dog is rumored to be developing a remastered version of The Last of Us Part 2.
