PC gamers have been spoiled lately, with The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered being the latest in a steady stream of previous PlayStation exclusives to arrive on the platform. With the second season of The Last of Us in full swing, the port couldn't be better timed: the series has injected a sizeable portion of new fans into the mix, including PC gamers, who now have the opportunity to experience both entries of this legendary series from the comfort of their PC battle stations.
The Best War Games recently sat down with developers from Naughty Dog and PC-porting experts from Nixxes to discuss The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered' s arrival on the platform, including some of the biggest advantages the port brings to the table. Unsurprisingly, one key advantage is broader accessibility to play the games, but perhaps most importantly, the game's Steam Deck compatibility lets players enjoy the title in an entirely new way.
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The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered PC Port Paves the Way for Portable Gaming
Given The Last of Us 2 Part 2: Remastered's visual fidelity, it's an impressive feat that Nixxes managed to achieve Steam Deck Verified status with its performance. It's obviously exciting that the PC market gets to enjoy the full series, but this move has also brought the franchise into the realm of portable gaming, as game director Matthew Gallant says:
" The one that comes most readily to mind for me is that we were able to release the game on Steam Deck. We've now announced that it's verified on Steam Deck, and that's a really exciting new way for players to experience games—being able to take it on the go and play portably.
That's only possible in this port because of the work Travis was mentioning—things like scalability and supporting a wide range of options. When you're already targeting so many different hardware configurations, being able to support something as low-end as the Steam Deck is a big deal. It opens up the game to a lot more players, especially those who like to play from the comfort of their bed or while traveling."
With so much hype around the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal, handheld gaming platforms like Steam Deck are enjoying renewed interest. Not only is it cheaper than a mid-range PC build, but the convenience of portability is ideal for busy gamers, travelers, or those with especially comfortable couches. Steam Deck users can now watch The Last of Us series through their device's browser, then head straight into the game without missing a beat.
The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered Looks and Runs Better Than Ever on PC
Of course, another significant advantage is the sheer variety of PC configurations that can play The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered. By targeting Steam Deck verification, Nixxes killed two birds with one stone and ensured that the game could run on even older hardware with some settings tweaks. Scalability isn't an issue when developing for a single platform like the PlayStation 5, after all, so it took considerable work to make the game playable across thousands of configurations. Head of Technonlogy Travis McIntosh notes:
" At a high level, the main reason we pursued this port was to reach an audience we couldn't before. There are players who prefer mouse and keyboard, or those who've invested heavily in their PCs and want to experience the game on that platform.
With the show's release, new fans are discovering the story and might be interested in this part of it. However, they may not own the original version or a PlayStation console. This port offers them an opportunity to engage with the game.
Thanks to the work Nixxes has done, even players with older machines—three or four years old—can enjoy an amazing experience. The game runs smoothly across a wide range of hardware, not just the latest high-end setups."
This also means there's a wider range of input devices available to use when playing The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered. The game is compatible with mouse and keyboard controls, but best of all, those with DualSense controllers can also leverage its full suite of features when hooked up to their PCs. Plus, there's the upward scalability: high-end PC users can take advantage of features like DLAA and DLSS Frame Generation to experience the game in its best possible light.
The Last of Us Part 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 19, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
