The Last of Us Part 1 trailer shows off gameplay improvements after ‘hurtful’ leaks

Developer Naughty Dog has released an in-depth look at The Last of Us remake

(Credit: Naughty Dog)

➡️ The Shortcut Skinny

• 📺 A new trailer for The Last of Us Part 1 shows off the game’s improvements

• 🤩 The game can render at a native 4K at 30fps, or dynamic 4K targeting 60fps

• 💪 Utilizes all of the PS5’s features, like 3D audio and the DualSense controller

• 🆕 Includes new modes, costumes, and 60-plus accessibility options

• 😔 The trailer was released shortly after “hurtful” leaks appeared online

Naughty Dog has released an in-depth look at The Last of Us Part 1, shortly after countless leaks appeared online.

Co-president of Naughty Dog Neil Druckmann explains that development began on The Last of Us Part 1 when the team was working on flashbacks within The Last of Us 2, which was released in 2020. The team wanted to push the boundaries of what was possible from a graphical and gameplay standpoint and bring The Last of Us Part 1 closer to the team’s original vision.

The technology of the PS5 allowed Naughty Dog to “reimagine” The Last of Us by rebuilding the characters at the highest fidelity possible. The cutscene and gameplay models are now the same, making seamless transitions possible. Facial animations are also more believable and nuanced, reflecting the real-world original performances. 

Thanks to the PS5, The Last of Us Part 1 will have a higher density of physics objects in a scene. That means more destructive environments and convincing material properties, giving the game a more “dynamic range,” according to Naughty Dog.

The AI has also been overhauled and is one of the biggest improvements returning players will notice, graphics aside. Your companions in The Last of Us Part 1 will intelligently take cover to avoid being spotted by enemies, which wasn’t the case before. 

In terms of new gameplay modes, The Last of Us Part 1 is getting an enhanced photo mode, a speedrun option, permadeath, new render modes, unlockable costumes, and a model viewer mode. The game also includes over 60 accessibility options, including audio description built into the cinematics. 

🎮 PS5 features in action

Fans of the PS5 DualSense controller will be pleased to know that The Last of Us Part 1 takes full advantage of the pad’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Every gun in the game has a different level of variable resistance on the trigger, and the haptic feedback will let you feel the sensation of pumping a shotgun. The PS5’s 3D audio promises to add another level of immersion to the game, Naughty Dog said.

🤫 Addressing the leaks

Countless gameplay clips and screenshots from The Last of Us Part 1 recently leaked online, causing many to question whether the remake was just a graphical upgrade or even a cash grab.

• 👉 These are the best PS5 games right now

As the trailer above clearly shows, there’s more to The Last of Us Part 1 than many would have thought, but none of these features came across in the leaked footage.

Naughty Dog vice president Arne Meyer tweeted about the damage that leaks can do and hoped that the new deep-dive would dispel some of the game’s detractors.

arne @arnemeyer

Leaks really suck. Esp when we're right on the cusp of an asset drop. It's disheartening and frustrating to teams who have put their hearts making awesome things for our fans. That being said, here's a deep dive into what's new for The Last of Us Part I, incl some gameplay

Naughty Dog @Naughty_Dog

Find out how Naughty Dog rebuilt The Last of Us Part I for PS5 in a brand new features video w/ Neil Druckmann, Game Director Matthew Gallant, and Creative Director Shaun Escayg. Watch the Full Video -> https://t.co/vYVa2M2nQh

The Last of Us Part 1 releases exclusively on PS5 on September 2, 2022. A PC version is also planned for the future. If you’re still on the hunt for a PlayStation 5, check out our PS5 restock page for all the latest info and exclusive insight into when the next stock drop will happen.