Sony finally brought its flagship exclusive to PC audiences with The Last of Us, and reactions ran from playful jabs to sharp criticism. Many players felt the PC port arrived as a rough beta test rather than a finished product, especially when compared to recent PC versions of other big titles. In the wake of a poorly received remake like Resident Evil 4 on PC, the experience of The Last of Us Part 1 sparked a broader conversation about how well Sony and its partners optimize PC ports. This piece examines the PC port, aiming to understand where it fell short and what that means for players on Windows machines.
Problem one: depressing technical performance
Prior to launch, concerns about the port’s quality were evident, with some pointing to the studio entrusted with the port. Iron Galaxy, known for previous PC projects, drew skepticism for its handling of console-to-PC controls and keyboard/mouse customization.
All the problematic moments of the Uncharted PC port were fixed in a few patches
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection ran on modest setups with only minor flaws tied to older CPUs and a clumsy mouse-to-analog translation. FPS remained generally stable, and patches gradually addressed issues. Still, the PC version did not escape harsh scrutiny, and Sony’s decision to involve Iron Galaxy drew questions about porting choices. Other Sony releases, including God of War and Days Gone, demonstrated that Sony can manage PC ports well when handled more independently.
In general, the picture is pleasant but with a sting
The Last of Us Part 1 on PC presents a port that attempts to mirror the PS5 experience for a broad range of hardware. The visuals stay within a familiar range for 2023, not pushing into ultra-realistic lighting or advanced ray tracing, yet the higher system requirements raise eyebrows. A story-driven adventure with dense scenes and many mechanics still demands substantial memory and bandwidth. In practice, RAM usage is unusually high, and memory leaks can appear.
The system requirements are shocking
Optimization appeared to lag behind at launch, with a second patch promised to improve issues. RAM-related loading of gameplay logic proved troublesome on some setups, and even on strong machines, stability could be inconsistent during scene transitions and encounters.
After the second patch, the game is more stable. Mouse control has become more convenient and smooth
Small freezes and glitches persisted, not always visible in the FPS readouts. The underlying cause pointed to the porting code rather than the hardware, which is especially painful for a narrative title where dips in performance can break immersion. Comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077 highlighted how a strong open world can still feel stable at launch, something this title struggled to achieve.
But what can happen if the developer has saved on testing
Immediate post-start shader compilation remains a notorious hurdle, with some players waiting long periods before gameplay begins. On some rigs, shader work stretched into hours, and Steam users reported extended waits that affected the initial playthrough. The port also taxed processors heavily during heavy shader workloads, raising questions about the overall polish delivered at launch.
Now we know what kind of smuggler Joel had with him.
Before release, the stated hardware requirements suggested a leap in ambition. Yet the PC port did not depart far from the console version in terms of visual fidelity, and some players observed that NPCs and textures did not convincingly surpass expectations. On some setups, DLSS or FSR could help frame rates but did not fix fundamental rendering quirks.
NPC detailing
Resolution handling presented its own challenges. On standard Full HD, some visual quirks appeared, including texture artifacts and inconsistent anti-aliasing. While 4K offered a clearer image, not everyone possesses the hardware for ultra-high settings. The remake’s PS5 origin raised questions about whether the PC version could truly match a native PC release.
Hair breaks into pixels in FullHD
The port also required newer drivers, and while driver updates can improve graphics performance, they did not guarantee a smooth experience, especially during heavy loads.
After the last patch, the friezes remained, but they are no longer in the battle scenes
Additionally, the absence of a dedicated SSD in some setups led to longer load times. Even with fast drives, start-to-game loading exceeded expectations, and some comparisons highlighted how other recent PC ports delivered faster, broader object detail.
With keyboard and mouse controls, it’s even worse. Abrupt movements can disrupt the camera and lead to noticeable stutters, making progression uncomfortable. Many players turned to gamepads for better targeting, though that undermines the PC port’s original aim.
Playing with a mouse just got a lot easier
Guidance from the PS5 interface carried over, and some users felt the port did not sufficiently adapt controls for PC. Adjustments were minimal, and players found themselves relying on translated control cues rather than a fully native PC control scheme.
Finally, visual bugs. Hair rendering inconsistencies, skewed lighting, NPCs appearing off-model, and other glitches not present in the PS5 version were noted. In some scenes, characters behaved oddly or rendered in ways that broke immersion.
Have you been waiting for the PC version of The Last of Us?
Problem two: bad timing for release
Another issue was the release timing. Against the backdrop of a strong competitor like Resident Evil 4 on PC, the Naughty Dog title faced an uphill battle. Despite affection for the game across its platforms, the PC port arrived during a crowded moment for high-profile launches.
The bad PC port situation is so bad it made Ellie sweat
When it first landed on PS5, the remake of The Last of Us was more of a comeback on the platform than a true reinvention. The original game’s design hadn’t aged as gracefully as hoped, and after finishing Part 2 the desire to revisit Part 1 waned for some players. In contrast, Capcom’s recent Resident Evil 4 remake demonstrated how a complete rebuild can reinvigorate a classic. It reimagined locations, expanded possibilities, and encouraged continuous play. Meanwhile, in this port, character animation and pacing felt uneven, and aiming with a mouse often resembled a crowded shooting range.
The particle system is still very cool
The Last of Us could have been stronger, but other major releases drew attention away. Some players install the game for review purposes and later move on to more engaging projects, leaving the port viewed as a commercial move rather than a fresh, lasting experience. The port’s runtime issues left many convinced that Sony should have delayed the PC release until more polish arrived.
If someone has never played The Last of Us and plans to try the PC port, waiting a bit longer to allow patches to improve stability is a sensible choice.
How does The Last of Us Part 1 work for you?
This PC port did not meet the long-awaited standard, and it raised questions about whether the best experience awaits on console hardware. The port sometimes felt under-optimized, requiring substantial hardware and time for shader compilation before enjoyable gameplay could begin. Patches later offered improvements, but many players still recommend patience.
More photos are in the gallery.
Source: VG Times