Free Update Released: The Last of Us Part II Remastered gets a free patch featuring the new Chronological Mode, now available for download.
Chronological Storytelling: Players can experience the game’s events in timeline order, offering clearer pacing and narrative flow—especially for those who found the original structure confusing.
Extras Included: Update also adds new trophies and Drake-inspired skins for Joel and Tommy, celebrating Naughty Dog’s 40th anniversary.
The free update includes a new mode, Chronological Mode, which allows players to experience the game from start to finish as events unfold, rather than viewing the first and second halves through Ellie and Abby, respectively.
Provided that much of the discourse around the game has focused on pacing issues and a confusing flow, this new mode might address those concerns.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered Chronological Mode Overview
Here are the details:
Available for players as part of a downloadable update today, we’ve introduced a new way to play the story of The Last of Us Part II like never before—chronologically.
Those who have already played will know its story is told non-linearly, as Ellie and Abby’s motivations, realizations, and emotional stakes unfold across myriad flashbacks and present-day storylines. While this structure is very intentional and core to how our studio wanted Part II‘s themes and narrative beats to impact players, we always wondered what it would be like to experience this story chronologically. And now finally, we can answer that question.
Through the new Chronological mode, we believe players will gain even deeper insight into Part II‘s narrative. Players will be able to see how Ellie being gifted a guitar flows so neatly into her learning to play, for example, while the journey through Seattle will showcase the fascinating parallels between Ellie and Abby’s crisscrossing journeys. You’ll see just how close they come into running into each other, how their actions impact each other, and more.
It was no small feat to bring The Last of Us Part II‘s story chronologically together, given that Part II‘s story is so meticulously put together. We’re grateful to the developers both at Naughty Dog and our partners at Nixxes to make the Chronological mode as smooth as possible. And while we of course recommend players still new to the game to play through Part II‘s story as was originally developed, the team’s hard work has paid off with a fascinating new way to enjoy this chapter.
Additionally, this free update for The Last of Us Part II Remastered comes with new trophies for completing Chronological mode and two new skins for Joel and Tommy, dressing up as Nathan Drake and Sam Drake, to celebrate Naughty Dog’s 40th anniversary.
