Is The Last of Us Part I Worth Playing on PC? Features, Requirements, and Drawbacks

Yes—provided your PC matches the performance target you actually want. The PC remake delivers the complete single-player campaign with adjustable graphics, modern upscaling, ultrawide support, keyboard-and-mouse controls, accessibility options, and controller support. It is a sensible choice for players who prefer PC or want settings that the console release cannot provide. The qualification matters: PlayStation’s hardware tiers are targets rather than guarantees, and Naughty Dog has continued issuing performance, crash, stability, and audio fixes. Check your CPU, GPU and VRAM, RAM, SSD space, resolution, and frame-rate goal before buying.

What the PC edition offers

The Last of Us Part I is the rebuilt version of Naughty Dog’s single-player survival drama. The PC edition released on March 28, 2023, according to its Steam listing (Steam store listing). It is the same campaign rather than a multiplayer product, so the buying decision is mainly about image quality, controls, performance headroom, and whether your computer can run it comfortably.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		The Last Of Us Part I Standard - PC [Online Game Code]	$59.99	Buy on Amazon
2		THE LAST OF US PART I - DELUXE EDITION - PC [Online Game Code]	$69.99	Buy on Amazon
3		The Last of Us: Escape the Dark Board Game	$72.99	Buy on Amazon
4		The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts	$41.99	Buy on Amazon

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Graphics options and display support

The official PC feature list includes AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.2 (FSR 2.2), NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution, VSync, an adjustable frame-rate cap, and individual settings for textures, shadows, reflections, and ambient occlusion. Compatible hardware and a suitable display can be used for 4K output. The game also supports 21:9 ultrawide and 32:9 super-ultrawide aspect ratios, which is a practical advantage over a console-focused setup. These features and their availability requirements are documented on PlayStation’s official PC page.

Input, accessibility, and audio

You can play with a keyboard and mouse, DualShock 4, DualSense, or other supported gamepads. The PC release provides full control remapping, primary and secondary keyboard-and-mouse bindings, and an adaptive mode that combines keyboard and controller input. It also carries the game’s accessibility feature suite, so players can tailor controls and presentation rather than relying on one fixed control scheme.

#1 Best Overall

The Last Of Us Part I Standard - PC [Online Game Code]

• Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards.
• Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.

$59.99

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DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers require a wired DualSense connection on PC; the official feature page does not promise those effects over Bluetooth. The same page lists 3D audio, which requires stereo headphones or compatible speakers. If you use another controller or keyboard and mouse, the game remains playable, but you should not expect DualSense-specific effects.

Can your PC run it?

PlayStation publishes four performance tiers. Each tier lists Windows 10 64-bit version 1909 or newer, 16 or 32 GB of system memory depending on the target, and at least 100 GB of SSD storage. The figures below are the publisher’s stated examples, not independent benchmark guarantees. A listed graphics card may reach its target in some scenes and settings but does not promise identical frame times in every area, driver version, or background workload.

These are four different goals, not four quality labels for the same experience. “Minimum” means a 720p Low 30-fps target, not a comfortable 1080p setting. The recommended tier is the relevant starting point for a 1080p High presentation, while the 1440p and 4K tiers require 32 GB of RAM. The Ultra 4K examples specifically include a Radeon RX 7900 XTX or GeForce RTX 4080. All of these specifications come from PlayStation’s requirements table.

How to match the requirements to your own setup

1. Set the goal first. Decide whether you want 720p at 30 fps, 1080p at an average 60 fps, 1440p at an average 60 fps, or 4K at an average 60 fps. Do not compare your parts with “minimum” unless you are genuinely accepting the 720p Low target.
2. Check the CPU model. Compare it with the CPU examples in the chosen row. A newer processor with a different architecture cannot be judged by model number alone, so treat the table as a target reference rather than a promise of equivalence.
3. Check the GPU and VRAM. Match both the graphics-card class and its listed memory. VRAM capacity matters independently of the GPU name because high texture settings can increase memory pressure.
4. Confirm system RAM. The 720p and 1080p rows specify 16 GB; the 1440p High and 4K Ultra rows specify 32 GB.
5. Reserve SSD space. The published requirement is 100 GB on an SSD. Leave additional free space for the operating system, shader data, updates, and other applications rather than filling the drive to its limit.
6. Verify the software environment. The listed requirement is Windows 10 64-bit version 1909 or newer. The official table does not rewrite that line as a general Windows 11 policy, so check the current store and game compatibility information when you purchase.

If your parts fall between rows, use the lower row as the safer expectation and plan to reduce resolution, quality, or the frame-rate cap. The publisher does not state that a particular CPU/GPU combination will deliver a universal frame rate in every scene.

Rank #2

THE LAST OF US PART I - DELUXE EDITION - PC [Online Game Code]

• Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards.
• Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Settings that make the biggest difference

Upscaling and resolution

FSR 2.2 and DLSS Super Resolution can render internally below your display resolution and reconstruct the image. DLSS requires compatible NVIDIA hardware; FSR is the alternative for supported AMD and other systems. Start with the native output resolution you want, then test an upscaling mode before cutting every quality setting. Upscaling can reduce GPU load while preserving more detail than simply selecting a much lower output resolution, but the visual result depends on the mode and scene.

Frame pacing

Use the in-game frame-rate cap when your system produces uneven frame times or runs unnecessarily hot. VSync can prevent tearing, while a cap below your display’s refresh rate can make frame delivery more consistent. Naughty Dog’s support FAQ specifically points players toward the in-game cap and performance HUD when diagnosing performance (PC FAQ).

Textures, shadows, and reflections

Texture quality is closely tied to VRAM, while shadows, reflections, and ambient occlusion affect GPU workload in different ways. If you see stutter or a VRAM warning, lower texture quality first and then reduce the most expensive lighting or reflection options. Keep a cap enabled while evaluating changes so that one busy scene does not make the entire configuration look worse or better than it is.

Has the PC version been fixed?

It has received substantial post-launch work, but “fixed” is too absolute a word for every PC configuration. Naughty Dog’s update history shows that the port’s performance and stability were actively addressed over time:

Rank #3

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• v1.0.5.0, May 9, 2023: the notes describe performance work, shorter shader build times, texture-fidelity changes, CPU improvements, loading improvements, reduced VRAM impact, and fixes for crashes and progression issues (official v1.0.5.0 notes).
• v1.1.0, June 13, 2023: the update listed global CPU/GPU optimizations, shader and loading improvements, crash fixes, and Steam Deck fixes. It also established the game’s Steam Deck Verified status (official v1.1.0 notes).
• v1.1.5, July 3, 2025: the latest surfaced official notes list further performance optimizations, crash and stability fixes, an audio fix for certain Steam Deck areas, and FSR 4 support for compatible AMD Radeon GPUs. Naughty Dog describes the update as bringing improvements and stability fixes from The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PC and support for AMD’s latest FidelityFX Super Resolution version (official v1.1.5 notes).

This chronology supports buying the current, patched build rather than judging it only by launch reports. It does not prove that every historical issue is gone or that an untested configuration will deliver a specific frame rate.

Known drawbacks and practical troubleshooting

Naughty Dog’s support FAQ still has dedicated guidance for high CPU usage, high VRAM usage, and audio faults. The documented audio symptoms include pops or clicks, missing dialogue, and missing sound in cinematics. The existence of those help articles confirms that these are recognized troubleshooting categories; it does not establish how often each occurs on current hardware.

If CPU usage is unusually high

• Close unnecessary background applications and overlays before launching.
• Use the in-game performance HUD to identify whether the CPU is limiting frame delivery.
• Apply the current game update and graphics driver, then retest with a frame-rate cap.
• Reduce CPU-heavy workload by lowering the target frame rate or demanding scene settings rather than assuming a faster GPU will solve a processor bottleneck.

If VRAM usage is high

• Lower texture quality and restart the test in the same area.
• Use FSR 2.2 or DLSS Super Resolution where supported.
• Keep other GPU-intensive applications closed and avoid running multiple high-resolution displays or capture tools during diagnosis.
• Do not treat the 4 GB minimum examples as evidence that every setting will fit into 4 GB; the minimum target is 720p Low.

If audio is missing or distorted

• Check the selected Windows output device and confirm that stereo headphones or compatible speakers are connected for 3D audio.
• Test without virtual-surround or enhancement software to isolate processing conflicts.
• Update the game and consult the symptom-specific steps in the official FAQ if dialogue, cinematic sound, pops, or clicks persist.

Because no current independent benchmark is established here, avoid promising a universal “locked” frame rate. For a configuration-specific answer, you need the exact CPU, GPU and VRAM, RAM amount, SSD status and free space, display resolution, and desired frame rate, then compare those details with a current benchmark using comparable settings.

What about Steam Deck?

The game received official Steam Deck Verified status in v1.1.0. Verified is a compatibility designation, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate, battery life, image-quality preset, or issue-free operation in every area. The later v1.1.5 notes include an audio improvement for certain Steam Deck locations, showing that handheld-specific fixes continued after verification. Treat the badge as a useful baseline and keep the game updated rather than as proof of flawless performance.

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The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts

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Who should buy the PC version?

Where to buy and what to budget for

PlayStation links the PC edition to Steam and Epic. The Steam listing identifies the single-player release and its March 28, 2023 launch date (Steam). Prices, discounts, regional availability, and customer-review sentiment change, so check the storefront for your region at the time of purchase rather than relying on an old price.

You do not need an extra accessory if your keyboard, mouse, or existing controller works for you. A DualSense is optional for its supported haptics and adaptive triggers, and those effects require a wired connection. An SSD upgrade is only necessary if you cannot provide the required 100 GB of free SSD space; it is not a mandatory purchase for a PC that already meets that requirement.

Verdict

The Last of Us Part I is worth playing on PC when your hardware aligns with the target you want and you value flexible graphics, ultrawide displays, PC input, and accessibility controls. The current build is considerably more mature than the launch version, with updates through v1.1.5 in July 2025, but the official requirements remain targets and Naughty Dog’s FAQ still covers real troubleshooting cases. Make the decision from your own CPU/GPU, VRAM, RAM, SSD, resolution, and frame-rate goal—not from the word “minimum,” a launch-era complaint, or a promise of identical performance on every machine.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

The Last Of Us Part I Standard - PC [Online Game Code]

$59.99

Bestseller No. 2

THE LAST OF US PART I - DELUXE EDITION - PC [Online Game Code]

$69.99

SaleBestseller No. 3

The Last of Us: Escape the Dark Board Game

$72.99

SaleBestseller No. 4

The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts

$41.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Naughty DogPC gamingPC requirementsSteam DeckThe Last of Us Part I