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

Entertainment

Box office: Brand New Day set to surpass US$ 2 billion, drives Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 resurgence

Sony Pictures’ fourth Tom Holland feature film sets records

Published

August 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

The box office performance of Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been nothing short of spectacular.

Sony Pictures’ fourth feature film featuring Tom Holland as the titular protagonist broke the domestic opening day record.

This feat narrowly beat the previous record set by another Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film in Avengers Endgame.

That strong opening continued in the next few weeks as Brand New Day became became the fastest to reach the US$ 500 million mark, breaching the milestone in just seven days, per LA Times.

The movie is already the highest grossing film of 2026, beating Toy Story 5.

Which such massive success so far, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is on pace to beat Avengers: Infinity War for worldwide total gross.

With over US$ 1.7 billion grossed in just two weeks, the film is projected to surpass any point between the US$ 2.1 billion to US$ 2.3 billion mark.

It will become only the eighth ever film to surpass that mark once it reaches at least US$ 2 billion.

The others are: Avatar (2009), Endgame (2019), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Ne Zha (2025), Titanic (1997), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and Infinity War (2018).

However, Endgame still holds an advantage, thanks to its international launch in major markets. The epic conclusion to the MCU’s Infinity Saga grossed US$ 2.79 billion during its 2019 run. And you will have to adjust that value slightly due to inflation.

In the Philippines, a strong market, Brand New Day has just eclipsed the PhP 1 billion mark, which is roughly about US$ 17.2 billion.

For comparison, it will definitely surpass Infinity War at some point, while Endgame grossed PhP 1.8 billion total or about US$ 34.56 billion at the time.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 experiences resurgence

Moreover, the film’s success also triggered a transmedia halo effect with Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also experiencing a resurgence in sales and player engagement.

Per IGN citing Alinea Analytics, since the film’s release, the game sold over 300,000 more copies across PlayStation 5 and Steam within a two-week span.

This is the equivalent to over US$ 11 million in revenue for Sony and Insomniac Games.

Plus, for the first time since the title’s launch in 2023, it experienced more than one million daily active users.

A combination of movie hype plus some timely discounts contributed to the game’s resurgence, also proving that the Spider-Man franchise has always been one of the biggest and most relevant IPs of all time.

Gaming

Ghost of Yotei gets a story expansion in October

The Complete Edition comes with the expansion and a roguelike mode.

Published

August 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Ghost of Yotei is a classic RPG experience set in the same universe as its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima. In my opinion, Atsu’s journey of revenge feels a lot more fun than Jin’s battle to save his homeland. If you’re in the same boat, Ghost of Yotei is coming back on October 1 with brand-new content.

Without delving too much into spoiler territory, Ghost of Yotei has a conclusive ending. Rather than shoehorning a forced epilogue, Echoes of Sekigahara, the title of the upcoming story expansion, explores Atsu’s past.

As with Tsushima’s expansion, Echoes of Sekigahara features a new map with new enemies, weapons, and collectibles. It will be set in two different time periods.

Besides the story expansion, the upcoming update also has a new mode called Most Wanted, which Sucker Punch Production describes as their “spin on a roguelike.” The mode explores Atsu’s experience as a headhunter, feeding her with bounties and earnable perks.

The two new content expansions will come with in the upcoming Ghost of Yotei Complete Edition. The new edition, coming on October 1, will also come with the co-op Legends mode. It also has a few perks and customization options. The edition will sell for US$ 70.

If you already have the base edition, you can grab an upgrade for only US$ 15. If you don’t want to pay for the upgrade, the game is still getting a few minor tweaks.

Gaming

Marvel Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 bundle SEA pricing

Available in Battle Yellow and Adamantium Limited Editions

Published

August 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

The first look for the Marvel Wolverine Limited Edition PlayStation 5 Console bundle and accessories have just released.

The console inspired by the raw power of Wolverine and Insomniac’s Battle Reborn suit (Battle Yellow) and claws (Adamantium).

Along with its preview, here are the suggested retail price (SRP) details for markets in Southeast Asia:

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition Bundle

SG$ 849
MYR 2,799
IDR 11,399,000
THB 20,990

DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition and Adamantium Limited Edition

SG$ 115
MYR 419
IDR 1,549,000
THB 2,890
PhP 5,411
VND 2,399,000

PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro Console Covers – Battle Yellow Limited Edition and Adamantium Limited Edition

SG$ 101
MYR 369
IDR 1,359,000
THB 2,590
PhP 4,767 (Battle Yellow only)
VND 2,099,000 (Battle Yellow only)

The bundle and accessories will be available beginning September 15 in limited quantities. Pre-order will start from August 19 in local retailers, save for the PS5 and PS5 Pro console covers.

In Singapore, DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition will be available exclusively through select retailer channels in limited quantity.

Marvel’s Wolverine releases on September 15 for PlayStation 5 consoles.