The release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC has been met with a mix of excitement and disappointment. While the game has received praise for its narrative and gameplay, its technical performance on PC has been a significant letdown, especially when compared to its PlayStation 4 counterpart. Digital Foundry, a renowned source for in-depth technical reviews, has published a comprehensive analysis of the game's performance on PC, highlighting several areas where it falls short of expectations.

Technical Review Highlights

Digital Foundry's technical review of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC is a detailed exploration of the game's performance across various metrics. The review is extensive, covering frame rates, load times, texture clarity, and settings optimization. The findings reveal that despite the PC version having access to significantly more powerful hardware, it still struggles to outperform the base PlayStation 4 version released in 2013.

One of the most striking findings is the game's inefficient use of GPU resources. Digital Foundry compared the performance of an RTX 3060 GPU, which has more than three times the compute power of the base PS4, and found that it could not consistently double the performance of the game on PlayStation 4. This inefficiency is described as a "very large outlier" in their history of examining PC ports, suggesting that the game's optimization on PC leaves much to be desired.

Performance Issues on PC

The review also highlights several performance issues that are not present on the PS4 Pro version of the game. These include:

1. Stuttering and Frame Rate Drops: Players on PC may experience stuttering and frame rate drops, which can significantly impact the gaming experience. Digital Foundry noted that these issues were fairly common, even on high-end hardware.
2. Game Lock-Ups: The review mentions instances where the game would lock up without warning before resuming a few seconds later. This kind of instability can be frustrating for players, especially during critical moments in the game.
3. Shadow Popping: Another issue identified is the inconsistent rendering of shadows. Even with settings maxed out, shadows would sometimes pop in at odd times, affecting the visual quality of the game.
4. These technical issues are particularly surprising given the game's status as a remastered version. Players expect a remastered game to take full advantage of modern hardware, delivering a smoother and more visually appealing experience. However, The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC falls short in these areas, leading to a less-than-ideal gaming experience.

Comparison with PS4 Performance

When compared to the PS4 version, the PC version's performance is particularly disappointing. The PS4 Pro version of the game, which is backward-compatible on PS5, does not exhibit the same issues. This suggests that the problems are specific to the PC port and not inherent to the game's design.

Digital Foundry's review emphasizes that players should adjust their expectations when playing on PC. The game's performance on PC is not only inferior to what one would expect from modern hardware but also worse than what was achievable on a console released over a decade ago. This discrepancy highlights the need for better optimization and potentially a reevaluation of the game's porting process.

Community Feedback and Developer Response

The technical issues have not gone unnoticed by the gaming community. Players have been vocal about their experiences, sharing their frustrations and observations on forums and social media. The feedback has been a mix of disappointment and hope, with many players expressing a desire for improvements in future updates.

In response to the feedback, the developers have acknowledged the issues and have committed to addressing them. While specific details on how and when these issues will be resolved have not been provided, the developers' recognition of the problems is a step in the right direction. Players will be closely monitoring future updates to see if the promised improvements materialize.