Naughty Dog has announced and released a new update for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, adding a rather unorthodox new feature – the ability to play the game chronologically. Mild spoilers follow, so be warned.
The story of the remaster and original follows Ellie and Abby, but their stories aren’t told in a linear sequence, especially considering the flashbacks. While Naughty Dog said this structure is “very intentional” and “core to how our studio wanted Part 2’s themes and narrative beats to impact players,” it wanted to see how experiencing everything chronologically would feel.
While it’s intriguing from a narrative perspective, it also offers some back and forth between their respective journeys in Seattle and “just how close they come into running into each other, how their actions impact each other, and more.” Nixxes, known for PlayStation’s PC ports, helped Naughty Dog create this mode. While first-time players should play the story as originally envisioned, long-time fans should have a unique experience.
Of course, even newcomers will want to play Chronological mode because it awards new Trophies and unlocks two new yet familiar skins: A Nathan Drake outfit for Joel and a Sam Drake outfit for Tommy. Both are usable in No Return.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is available for PS5 and PC. Check out our review here. Naughty Dog is currently working on a new title, Intergalactic, but it allegedly won’t launch anytime soon.
