While The Last of Us Part II was released on PC and consoles in June 2020, plunging us back into the adventures of Joel and Ellie at the heart of a zombie apocalypse (we're vulgarizing a little...), players had to get ready to go back in time... And with good reason: rumor had it that a remake of The Last of Us was in the works at Naughty Dog. This rumor was confirmed by the development studios at Summer Game Fest 2022, with a release date of September 2, 2022. A PC release is also planned at a later date.
And we've taken the opportunity to unveil a trailer showing the work of our teams on this remake, with its more advanced graphics. So, what does this new version have in store for us? A modernization of the gameplay, with improved controls and accessibility options, as Rochelle Snyder, Senior Manager Communications at Naughty Dog, explains. He continues:"Effects, exploration and combat have also been improved. We're harnessing the full power of the PS5 with 3D audio, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers".
As a reminder of the rumors, it was American journalist Jason Schreier who broke the story. In an article published on the Bloomberg website, the journalist described Sony 's secret project: to remake the 2013 blockbuster The Last of Us for the PlayStation 5. To achieve this, Sony set up a team whose existence had not yet been made official.
" Sony never fully recognized the team's existence or gave it the funding and support it needed to succeed in the highly competitive video game market. The studio never even had its own name. Instead, Sony transferred ownership of The Last of Us remake to its original creator, Naughty Dog, a Sony-owned studio behind many of the company's hit games and an HBO TV series in development," revealed Jason Schreier for the occasion.
This remake story is also the tale of a very particular battle, one that Sony was involved in. The company had set up a group to help other studios finalize productions, notably by providing animation, illustrations and other content. At the head of this team, known as the Visual Arts Service Group, was Michael Mumbauer.
He and his team were originally tasked with remaking Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The project was approved on a trial basis, but then shelved because Sony was unwilling to invest and hire new talent to make it happen. The team continued to work, however, before the pace of production was slowed by a number of problems.
At the same time, Sony asked the Visual Arts Service Group to lend a hand to the Naughty Dog studio , which was experiencing some slowdowns in the production of its The Last of Us Part II game. Then, little by little, the dynamics were reversed. " Sony has made it known that once The Last of Us Part II is finished, some of Naughty Dog's people will be helping out [du]. Mumbauer's team saw this as a loss of their fleeting autonomy ", explained the American journalist.
In fact, as the weeks went by, Naughty Dog gradually took over management of the project, with substantial financial support from Sony. Visual Arts Service Group therefore lost its creation and reverted to a technical support group. A situation that did not go down well with the employees.
Faced with a lack of support from the parent company, Michael Mumbauer resigned, taking part of the working group with him. TheUncharted remake project therefore seems to have been abandoned, in favor of The Last of Us, which is now within reach.
The editorial team tested the game several days before its official release. We tell you all about it!
Our review:
So, is this next-gen remake of The Last of Us worth it? For fans of the game, there's no doubt about it: graphically speaking, the software has undergone a very nice glow-up, with striking textures (we're thinking of the movement of the water, similar to what Horizon: Forbidden West offered) and revised lighting, with beautiful proposals. Graphically, then, it's much more fluid, much more beautiful and much more captivating. A real plus that should delight fans of contemplative games, as Naughty Dog' s photography is always up to scratch.
The gameplay has also been slightly modernized, both in terms of exploration and combat. The game is also more accessible, offering new accessibility options so that everyone can play in the best possible conditions. We also appreciate the addition of a speedrun mode, for fans of the genre. In short, there are plenty of good ideas for a simpler approach to gameplay. But don't worry, fans won't feel out of place. The software also makes use of the Dualsense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, to further enhance immersion in the game. A convincing piece of work, for a better gaming experience.
And for gamers unfamiliar with the franchise? Whether it's this remake, the PS3 version or the remastered version released on PS4, Naughty Dog here confirms that this is indeed a must-have for PlayStation consoles, thanks in particular to its well-written narrative and spot-on direction. But for PS5 owners, this remake is all the more interesting in that it has been adapted to the console's performance, both graphically and in other respects. In short, a must-have for all PS5 owners, and an opportunity for nostalgic fans to immerse themselves in this beautiful opus. For the rest of us, it's the best way to discover the story before tackling The Last of Us Part. 2!
