Gaming

The Last of us Part II Remastered is worth the upgrade

The additions truly add value

All images c/o Sony PlayStation

Published

January 16, 2024

Rodneil Quiteles

It’s always tricky writing about Remastered released for games that were released to a console just a generation ago. But some games make it easy by introducing truly new valuable additions to the game, and The Last of us Part II Remastered does just that.

For context, the game that precedes it, The Last of Us Part I, was remastered for a second time. The game first came out for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and then a remastered version was released for the PlayStation 4 (PS5). And just in 2022, it received its most significant graphical overhaul when it got a remake, this time, for the PlayStation 5 (PS5).

That last one wasn’t exactly received well when it was first announced. Primarily because PlayStation and Game Developer Naughty Dog priced it as if it was a totally brand new game. But those who played it, like us, can attest that the changes did feel significant.

But those graphical changes aren’t exactly that necessary for The Last of Us Part II. After all, it came out at the tail end of the PS4 Pro and was easily one of the best looking first party games of that console generation.

So, what’s new?

A lot, actually. It has everything from native 4K and improved graphics, support for the DualSense controller, to a brand new game mode you can sink your teeth into as soon as you finish the story.

The graphical improvements don’t feel significant at first. However, if you look for it, there’s a noticeable seamlessness into how the game transitions from cutscene to gameplay. Not that it wasn’t seamless before, it just is even smoother now in this remastered version.

It’s worth noting that if you have beaten the game before, your save file will be recognized and all your trophies will carry over. This also means you can jump right into the couple of new gameplay stuff that The Last of us Part II Remastered has to offer.

Guitar Free Play

This was a popular thing when the game first came out. Many players posted cover songs using only the game’s guitar playing mechanic. If you’ve advanced to the story enough, you’ll also gain access to more than just the acoustic guitar with Ellie playing during the early part of the game.

Speedrun

This is pretty self explanatory. Speedrun mode challenges you to beat the game as fast as you can. You can even post your best times for bragging purposes.

No Return

No Return is most certainly the addition that most players will sink their teeth into. Naughty Dog describes it as A Roguelike Survival Mode. Survival is very apt.

Essentially, you progress from one map to another defeating waves of enemies and collecting loot as you go along. The maps and waves of enemies are randomized. But they’re all ones that you’ve encountered in the main game.

After every wave, a treasure chest becomes available allowing you some time to retool your loadout or heal if necessary. After completing a stage, you are sent back to the first area which is a hideout. Here you can use the loot you collected in your runs to improve your stats and equipment with the work bench.

A punishing experience

The kicker is if you die at any point during your run, you lose all your items and you have to start over from the beginning. It can be punishing but it will certainly test your mastery of The Last of Us Part II’s combat.

You start off with just Ellie and Abby available as playable characters. The more runs and challenges you complete, the more characters are unlocked. Each character handles a little differently from each other. Much like how Ellie is more agile and Abby is flat-out stronger, each character will have their own strengths and weaknesses.

If you love a challenge, then this is certainly for you, but if you’re anything like this writer who is quite impatient and does not really care for roguelikes, this can be an infuriating experience.

Should you play The Last of Us Part II Remastered?

Despite this being a game that yours truly doesn’t exactly vibe with, this is objectively a masterpiece.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered polishes an already well-made product and adds some gameplay touches that elevate the experience. Most importantly, the new No Return game mode presents a challenge for those that truly enjoyed the game’s combat mechanics. The nature of the game mode even invites multiple playthroughs so it’s definitely something you’ll be investing some time in.

Unlike The Last of Us Part 1, The Last of Us Part II is a mere US$ 10 upgrade if you already own the game. And if you don’t, it’s worth every damn penny.

If you missed the first game and don’t have the bandwidth to play through it, you can watch either some quick recaps on YouTube or the Emmy Award-winning HBO show starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.

Related Topics:Naughty Dog PlayStation The Last of Us The Last of Us Part II Remastered

Gaming

Esports Nations Cup 2026 secures US$ 45M funding

ENC to elevate global esports with structured national ecosystem

Published

January 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 has just secured a US$ 45 million funding commitment, the Esports World Cup Foundation has announced.

This three-part funding commitment is structured to support the esports ecosystem through player and coach prizing, club release incentives, and national team development.

The first ever ENC will include a US$ 20 million in total prize money, paid directly to players and coaches across 16 titles.

The ENC introduces a placement-based prize framework, applied across all game titles. It is designed to be clear and player-centric.

Every qualified participant earns prize money and is guaranteed a minimum of three matches. Equal placement earns equal pay, meaning the same finishing position plays the same amount per player across all titles.

For a quick overview, the first-place finisher earns US$ 50,000 per player, whether competing in a solo or team title. Second-placers get US$ 30,000 per player, and third-placers get US$ 15,000 per player.

For team titles, payouts scale with roster size, so the result is consistent and transparent for everyone competing.

Meanwhile, the EWCF will provide US$ 5 million in club incentives for esports clubs that release and enable their professional players to participate in ENC.

In addition, there will also be another US$ 20 million for the ENC Development Fund. This supports official national team partners with logistics, travel, program operations, marketing, and the long-term growth of national team pathways.

The ENC 2026 is set to debut from November 2 to 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It will move to a rotating host-city model, bringing nation-based esports to major cities around the world.

The event is to be held every two years. Among confirmed titles for 2026 include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and DOTA 2.

Gaming

CODE VEIN II now available for consoles, PC

Launch trailer previews characters, combat gameplay, more

Published

January 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco’s CODE VEIN II is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

A new launch trailer has also been revealed, previewing the Soulslike action RPG’s characters, combat gameplay, and more.

Players can experiment with the character creator demo and create their own ideal character for the game.

The demo showcases how in-depth and detailed players can get when creating their own character. It allows for them to experience Photo Mode in the base of MagMell to take pictures of their looks.

Additionally, players who try the demo are allowed to carry their created looks over into the game.

CODE VEIN II is set in the dystopian near future, focusing on the stories of Revenants who must fight against their terrible fate.

In this reality, civilization has collapsed due to an event called the Resurgence. Humanity has only managed to survive, thanks to immortal vampire-like creatures called Revenants.

However, the sudden appearance of Luna Rapacis has turned these Revenants into mindless cannibals.

As a Revenant Hunter, the protagonist is tasked to save the world. Joining him in a journey 100 years into the past is a young girl.

In the process, they will witness the history-changing drama as they try to save the world from ruin.

The game is a combination of exploration action, wherein players can venture through dangerous areas and tackle powerful foes.

Combat against enemies are mainly hack-and-slash, while the protagonist can also explore the world like in the case of riding a motorbike.

Gaming

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra makes Gran Turismo 7 debut

Xiaomi’s premium, high-performing electric sedan joins the GT7 roster

Published

January 29, 2026

GadgetMatch

Xiaomi’s high-performing electric sedan, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, is now on the acclaimed racing simulation, Gran Turismo 7.

The premium EV debuted as part of the “Update 1.67” patch, marking Xiaomi’s first entry into the storied Gran Turismo franchise.

Players worldwide can now experience the prowess of the high-performance luxury car on the game’s virtual tracks.

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra represents a new addition to the series’ curated lineup, following an official collaboration announcement last June 2025.

As a benchmark in racing simulations, the Gran Turismo series is recognized for its hyper-realistic driving experience and stringent vehicle selection criteria.

The EV was test-driven on multiple occasions in several locations, including Beijing, the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and the Tsukuba Circuit.

To ensure an authentic experience, Xiaomi EV’s vehicle dynamics performance team traveled to Polyphony Digital’s studio for the final driving experience validation.

In reality, the SU7 Ultra is powered by an in-house developed Dual V8s + V6s Xiaomi Hyper TRi-Motor system.

It delivers 1,548 horsepower and achieves 0-100km/h in 1.98 seconds. The production version previously set a lap time of 7:04.957 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

To celebrate the launch, Gran Turismo 7’s developer will host a two-week official lap-time challenge on the title’s historic Monza circuit.