The highly anticipated PC release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered has arrived, and Digital Foundry has provided an in-depth technical review. While this version is a step up from the problematic PC launch of The Last of Us Part I, it still falls short in key performance areas.
Performance Concerns: PC vs. PlayStation 4
Surprisingly, despite its significantly superior hardware, the PC version of The Last of Us Part II Remastered struggles to consistently outperform the base PlayStation 4, which debuted in 2013. Digital Foundry’s analysis revealed that even with a GPU boasting over three times the compute power of the PS4, the game fails to deliver double the performance expected at comparable settings.
GPU Optimization Issues
In their extensive 15-minute review, Digital Foundry meticulously examined frame rates, loading times, texture quality, and overall optimization. A standout concern was the game’s heavy GPU usage, particularly when comparing a base PlayStation 4 to an NVIDIA RTX 3060. Given the PC GPU’s capabilities, it should effortlessly outperform the PS4, yet Digital Foundry’s findings suggest otherwise:
“We should be looking at a GPU that is around 3.5 times more performant in compute, even at a non-boosted clock. Yet the RTX 3060 cannot fully double the PS4’s performance in this game at the closest equivalent settings. This is a very large outlier in our history of examining PC ports.”
For players, this means expectations must be adjusted—dropping below PS4 settings could lead to a worse visual experience than on a console released over a decade ago.
Additional Technical Issues
Beyond performance inconsistencies, Digital Foundry also highlighted frequent stuttering, unexpected frame rate drops, and occasional game freezes. These brief but jarring lock-ups interrupt gameplay before abruptly resuming, making for an inconsistent experience even on high-end hardware. Additionally, shadows and textures pop in unpredictably, even when settings are maxed out.
PS4 Pro & PS5 Backward Compatibility: A More Stable Experience
Interestingly, these graphical and performance issues were not observed in the PS4 Pro version running on a PlayStation 5. This raises concerns about optimization efforts for the PC port, suggesting that further patches may be required to bring the game up to expected performance standards.
Final Thoughts
While The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PC is a notable improvement over its predecessor’s PC release, Digital Foundry’s findings indicate that serious optimization issues persist. Given the power of modern GPUs, players rightfully expect a smoother and more visually stunning experience. Hopefully, future updates will address these concerns and deliver the experience that PC gamers deserve.
