The Last of Us 2 Remastered for PS5: Gear Up for a Hefty Install with New Features

Ethan James 25 Dec 2023

Anticipation is mounting for the enhanced iteration of The Last of Us Part II, aptly titled The Last of Us 2 Remastered, especially now that the sizeable file requirements have come to light. Slated for the PlayStation 5, this version of the critically acclaimed title by Naughty Dog promises to not only revisit Ellie's emotional journey but to refine it with several upgrades aimed at leveraging the prowess of the newest console generation. With storage needs confirmed, let’s dive into what this means for fans keen on revisiting this post-apocalyptic saga.

Required Storage Space: Be Ready for the Bulk

Gone are the days when game installations were a trifling matter of mere gigabytes. The Last of Us 2 Remastered sets the bar with a demanding 76.164 GB requirement, a reminder of the larger-than-life experiences PS5 aims to deliver. If the size is an indication of the extent of enhancements we are to witness, players are indeed in for a substantial treat. As a head-up, those eager to immerse themselves into the remastered experience can mark the pre-load date, aspiring to ensure a seamless beginning to their adventure on release day.

Upgrades and New Inclusions: More than Just a Facelift

More than a mere upscale, this remastered edition packs in a significant punch. It introduces a gritty roguelike mode, 'No Return', which invites players to step into the shoes of multiple characters from the original plot. This, aligned with exclusive levels that didn't make it into the initial game release, tantalizes with the premise of novel content awaiting fans. Also on the cards are enhancements like improved texture resolution and shadow quality, promising a visual feast befitting new hardware capabilities.

Financial Accessibility and Upgrade Options

Affordability is key with The Last of Us 2 Remastered, as it breaks from the norm of steeply priced AAA releases and is tagged at a wallet-friendly $49.99. PlayStation accommodates previous owners of the PS4 version, presenting an upgrade pathway for a nominal $10, a move that’s both consumer-friendly and strategic in bolstering the game's adoption across console generations. Whether you've got the digital version tucked into your library or a physical disc gracing the shelf, the upgrade is uniformly accessible.

Balancing the Scales: File Size Considerations

A 76.164 GB file can appear daunting when juxtaposed with the finite real estate within our consoles. Yet, within the context of a typical PS5 library, the figure sits comfortably among the ranks of modern AAA titles. For perspective, it falls well under the storage appetites of juggernauts like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Marvel's Avengers. This suggests that for the graphical and gameplay enhancements promised, The Last of Us 2 Remastered is packing a lot into a relatively conservative space.

Looking to the Horizon: Naughty Dog’s Future Endeavors

The landscape of gaming under Naughty Dog’s stewardship continues to evolve. As The Last of Us 2 Remastered beckons fans back to its grim yet compelling world, the studio has also laid out teasers of multiple upcoming single-player projects. While this update came with the bittersweet news of halting development for a multiplayer project within The Last of Us universe, the focus remains to craft deeply engaging narrative-driven experiences that have become a hallmark of Naughty Dog’s legacy.

In Closing: The Next Chapter Awaits

From setting aside the required storage to reserving those precious pre-load hours, the foundation is being laid for players to dive back into the stirring narrative of The Last of Us Part II. With the stage set for a January debut, Ellie’s story will be unfurled anew, this time rendered with the vigorous brush of today’s technology. For fans and newcomers alike, The Last of Us 2 Remastered may just redefine what we have come to expect from a remastered experience, blurring the lines between an echo of the past and the bold stride into gaming's future.