The Last of Us Part I is available as a standalone Windows PC game through Steam and the Epic Games Store. It is the ground-up remake of the original The Last of Us, not the older The Last of Us Remastered. The Windows release launched on March 28, 2023.
The PC version includes the complete single-player campaign and the Left Behind prequel chapter, but it does not include the original game’s Factions multiplayer. For most players, the Standard Edition is the sensible purchase. Before buying, make sure your system has at least 16 GB of RAM, a 4 GB graphics card, and 100 GB of SSD space; the publisher’s recommended target rises to 8 GB of VRAM and 16 GB of RAM for 1080p at an average 60 frames per second.
Install it from an official storefront, update your game and graphics driver, and let shader compilation finish before judging performance. The game has received substantial post-launch updates, but results still vary considerably with CPU performance, VRAM, drivers, and storage speed.
If performance problems stem from a missing, outdated, or incompatible Windows hardware driver, Outbyte Driver Updater is an optional tool for checking for driver updates.
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What exactly is The Last of Us Part I on PC?
The Last of Us Part I is Naughty Dog’s 2022 remake of the original 2013 game, adapted for Windows in 2023. Sony describes it as being built from the ground up with newer technology, rather than a simple resolution or texture upgrade. It modernizes the visuals, gameplay presentation, controls, exploration, combat, and accessibility features.
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That distinction matters because The Last of Us Remastered is a different, older PS4 release. If you want the modern remake on PC, look specifically for The Last of Us Part I, whose Steam app ID is 1888930.
The PC release contains:
- The complete main single-player story.
- The Left Behind prequel chapter.
- Photo Mode.
- Speedrun and Permadeath modes.
- Gameplay modifiers, costumes, weapon skins, and other unlockable extras.
- The extensive accessibility suite introduced with Part I.
It is a single-player game. The original game’s Factions multiplayer mode is not included, so do not buy Part I expecting an online multiplayer component. See the official PlayStation game page for the publisher’s content description.
Windows release date and latest patch
The final Windows release date was March 28, 2023. An earlier announcement gave March 3, 2023, but Sony subsequently changed the PC date. March 28 is the date used by the current official store and support listings.
As of August 10, 2026, the latest official PC patch located in Naughty Dog’s support archive is version 1.1.5, released July 3, 2025. It added AMD FSR 4 support for compatible Radeon GPUs and included general performance, crash, and stability improvements. That does not mean every launch-era issue is eliminated on every PC; hardware-specific CPU, VRAM, driver, and shader behavior still matters. Check the official v1.1.5 patch notes for the latest archive entry.
Where to download The Last of Us Part I legally
The official Windows distribution platforms are:
Naughty Dog’s own support page directs PC users to Steam and Epic. There is no separate PlayStation Store PC download for this game. A legitimate digital license is redeemed through the storefront where you purchase it.
Accounts, PlayStation ownership, and saves
- A Steam purchase requires a Steam account.
- An Epic purchase requires an Epic Games account; Epic lists it under Login Accounts Required.
- A PSN account is not currently required for this PC title under PlayStation’s general PC guidance, unless the individual product page says otherwise.
- Buying the PS4 or PS5 version does not automatically unlock the Windows version. Console and PC purchases are separate products.
- PlayStation’s current PC guidance says PS4/PS5 save data cannot currently be transferred to the PC version.
These account and cross-platform details can change, so consult PlayStation’s current PC games FAQ if Sony changes its policy.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSteam versus Epic Games Store
| Consideration | Steam | Epic Games Store |
|---|---|---|
| Official PC version | Yes | Yes |
| Account required | Steam account | Epic Games account |
| Platform features | Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing, Remote Play on TV, trading cards, community features, and Steam Deck integration are listed. | Epic account integration, Epic Rewards eligibility, and a self-refundable label were shown on the listing checked. |
| Refunds | Check Steam’s current refund terms before buying. | Eligible PC purchases are generally refundable within 14 days when runtime is under two hours, but the individual product’s refund designation controls. |
| Best fit | Existing Steam users, achievement and cloud-save users, and Steam Deck owners. | Existing Epic users or buyers who prefer Epic promotions or account balance. |
Choose Steam if your library is already there, you want Steam’s achievements and cloud features, or you plan to play on Steam Deck. Choose Epic if you prefer the Epic launcher or its current promotion. Do not assume that saves, achievements, or other progression transfer between Steam and Epic; treat them as separate storefront purchases unless the game’s current documentation explicitly says otherwise.
The Steam listing also advertises two Ellie T-shirt cosmetics inspired by Left 4 Dead and Portal, available after completing the main story. Store-exclusive offers and regional terms can change, so verify the live listing before purchase.
PC system requirements
The following are the publisher’s four performance targets. They are estimates for particular presets and resolutions, not guarantees for every combination of processor, graphics card, driver, and background software. The official targets all specify an SSD and at least 16 GB of RAM for the first two tiers.
| Target | Expected result and preset | GPU | CPU | RAM | Operating system | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 30 fps at 720p, Low | AMD Radeon 470 4 GB, Radeon RX 6500 XT 4 GB, NVIDIA GTX 970 4 GB, or GTX 1050 Ti 4 GB | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or Intel Core i7-4770K | 16 GB | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer | 100 GB SSD |
| Recommended | Average 60 fps at 1080p, High | Radeon RX 5700 XT 8 GB, RX 6600 XT 8 GB, RTX 2070 Super 8 GB, or RTX 3060 8 GB | Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i7-8700 | 16 GB | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer | 100 GB SSD |
| Performance | Average 60 fps at 1440p, High | Radeon RX 6750 XT or NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti | Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i7-9700K | 32 GB | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer | 100 GB SSD |
| Ultra | Average 60 fps at 4K, Ultra | Radeon RX 7900 XTX or NVIDIA RTX 4080 | Ryzen 9 5900X or Core i5-12600K | 32 GB | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer | 100 GB SSD |
These figures come from the current official PlayStation PC specifications. Naughty Dog’s support documentation identifies 4 GB of VRAM as the minimum and 8 GB as recommended. A 4 GB card may be suitable for the minimum 720p target, but it is not a sensible basis for expecting 1080p High, high-resolution textures, or consistently smooth performance.
SSD, RAM, VRAM, and Windows caveats
- Install to an SSD. Naughty Dog warns that an HDD may cause problems if it is too old or slow. The published requirement is 100 GB of SSD space.
- 16 GB of system RAM is the floor in the official table. The 1440p and 4K targets specify 32 GB.
- VRAM matters. Texture quality and streaming can exceed what a low-memory GPU can comfortably provide even when its nominal GPU speed seems adequate.
- Windows 10 is still the listed game requirement, but Microsoft ended ordinary Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. In 2026, Windows 11 is the better security and maintenance choice when your hardware supports it. The reviewed official game specifications do not provide a separate Windows 11 certification row, so do not treat this as a formal publisher guarantee.
How to install it on Windows
Steam installation
- Install the official Steam client.
- Sign in to a Steam account or create one.
- Search for The Last of Us Part I, or open the official Steam listing.
- Confirm that the publisher is PlayStation Publishing and the developer is Naughty Dog.
- Buy the Standard or Digital Deluxe Edition.
- Open Library, select The Last of Us Part I, and click Install.
- Choose an SSD with at least 100 GB of free space.
- Allow the download and any updates to finish.
- Launch the game and let the initial shader-building process complete.
- Update your GPU driver if the game reports a driver problem or performance is poor.
Epic Games Store installation
- Install the official Epic Games Launcher.
- Sign in to an Epic Games account or create one.
- Search for The Last of Us Part I, or open the official Epic listing.
- Check that the platform is Windows and the developer is Naughty Dog.
- Buy the Standard or Digital Deluxe Edition.
- Open Library, select the game, and choose Install.
- Choose an SSD with at least 100 GB free.
- Wait for the game and all updates to finish downloading.
- Launch it through the Epic Games Launcher.
- Allow shader compilation to finish before starting a serious playthrough, and keep the launcher and GPU driver updated.
What happens on first launch: shader compilation
The game may build shaders before you can begin playing. This process can be lengthy and CPU-intensive, particularly on the first launch or after a major update. Starting the campaign while shaders are still being built can produce worse performance, hitching, or stutter, so let the process finish whenever possible.
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Shaders may be rebuilt after:
- A hardware change.
- A GPU driver update.
- Uninstalling and reinstalling the game.
- Re-verifying game files through Steam.
- Certain game patches.
A rebuild after one of those events is not necessarily a fault. If shader building repeatedly restarts without an obvious trigger, update the game and drivers, then contact Naughty Dog support rather than repeatedly deleting random cache files. The official support guidance does not prescribe arbitrary shader-file deletion as a universal first-line fix.
Standard Edition versus Digital Deluxe Edition
| Edition | What it includes | Who should buy it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Main story, Left Behind, the PC feature set, accessibility options, Photo Mode, and the additional modes and unlockable extras included in the PC release. | Almost everyone whose priority is playing the story. |
| Digital Deluxe | Everything in Standard, plus early unlocks for gameplay upgrades and modifiers and six weapon skins. | Players who specifically want the cosmetic bundle or want the listed modifiers and upgrades early. |
The Digital Deluxe contents listed by Steam include early access to:
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- Increased Healing Speed skill.
- 9mm Reload Speed Increase.
- Rifle Clip Capacity Increase.
- Explosive Arrows gameplay modifier.
- Dither Punk filter.
- Speedrun Mode.
- Black Gold 9mm Pistol skin.
- Silver Filigree 9mm Pistol skin.
- Rubber Tactical Shotgun skin.
- Sculpted Oak Shotgun skin.
- Arctic White Bow skin.
- Carbon Black Bow skin.
Digital Deluxe does not add a separate campaign or story expansion. Both editions include the main story and Left Behind. The Steam listing checked for this guide showed $59.99 for Standard and $69.99 for Digital Deluxe in the U.S., but prices, currencies, discounts, and regional availability change. Check the live Steam page or Epic page before purchase.
PC features
Graphics, resolution, and display options
The Windows version exposes more graphics controls than the console release, including adjustable:
- Texture quality.
- Shadows.
- Reflections.
- Ambient occlusion.
- VSync.
- Frame-rate caps.
- AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution.
It supports 4K output with suitable hardware and display, plus 21:9 ultrawide and 32:9 super-ultrawide aspect ratios. Aspect-ratio support does not guarantee a particular frame rate: a 3440×1440 or 5120×1440 monitor still places a considerable load on the GPU.
An in-game performance HUD can show useful information while tuning settings. Enable it through Options > HUD > Performance.
FSR and DLSS support
Do not rely on launch-era descriptions that stop at FSR 2.2 and DLSS. The feature history is cumulative:
- The original PC feature pages listed AMD FSR 2.2 and NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution.
- Patch v1.1.3 added AMD FSR 3 Super Resolution and FSR 3 Frame Generation.
- Patch v1.1.4 added AMD FSR 3.1 Super Resolution and FSR 3.1 Frame Generation.
- Patch v1.1.5 added AMD FSR 4 support for compatible AMD Radeon GPUs.
FSR 4 is not a promise that every AMD graphics card can use it. Also, do not assume NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation is available; the cited official patch history does not confirm it. The relevant announcements are collected on the game’s Steam announcement page.
Keyboard and mouse
The PC port supports full control remapping, primary and secondary keyboard and mouse bindings, separate look, aiming, and scoped sensitivities, mouse smoothing, and Raw Input. Raw Input bypasses Windows mouse acceleration. It also supports adaptive control options that combine keyboard and controller inputs.
Mouse camera controls are found at Options > Controls > Mouse Camera Sensitivity. If aiming feels inconsistent, check the separate sensitivity values and whether mouse smoothing or Windows acceleration is affecting your setup.
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Naughty Dog’s supported-controller guidance identifies:
- DualShock 4.
- Xbox controllers.
- Xbox Accessibility Controller.
- Switch Pro Controller.
- Steam Controller.
- Steam Deck controls.
- DualSense.
- DualSense Edge.
A wired connection is the safest starting point for supported controllers. DualSense and DualSense Edge work over USB and have partial wireless support. Wireless DualSense supports rumble and adaptive triggers, but detailed DualSense haptics are unavailable wirelessly on PC. For the strongest DualSense experience, connect it with a USB cable.
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If a controller behaves inconsistently, first connect it by USB, confirm that the launcher and game see the intended device, and check that the on-screen button prompts match the controller you are using. The official controller guide lists the supported devices and wireless limitations.
Audio
The PC version supports 3D audio with compatible stereo headphones or speakers. Audio troubleshooting controls are at Options > Audio > Compatibility, including Output Mode and Latency.
For pops, clicks, or other audio glitches, set Latency to Medium or High, then quit and relaunch the game. If dialogue or cinematic audio is missing, try Traditional Output Mode. Also check that Windows’ speaker layout matches the game’s selected output-channel configuration. If third-party spatial-audio software is active, Traditional mode may help because Windows Spatial Sound can bypass that software’s processing.
Accessibility
Accessibility is a major part of the PC release, not a minor extra. The suite includes navigation assistance, Enhanced Listen Mode, screen-reader support, audio descriptions, alternate controls, full remapping, high-contrast display options, slow motion, an invisibility toggle, automatic weapon swapping, adjustable aiming and traversal assistance, and extensive subtitle and visual-presentation controls.
Exact labels and menu placement can change with patches. For the current list, compare the in-game menus with Sony’s official accessibility feature documentation.
Photo Mode
Photo Mode is included. Sony’s Photo Mode guide documents a default P keyboard shortcut, Frame Forward for advancing a scene one frame at a time, up to three controllable dynamic lights, adjustable light position, size, strength, distance, and color, plus frames, logos, camera controls, and visual adjustments.
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The shortcut and features are documented, but do not assume a PlayStation-specific screenshot menu path is identical on Windows. Use the current in-game Photo Mode controls if the shortcut or interface differs.
First-launch checklist
- Install the game on an SSD.
- Update the game fully.
- Install a current GPU driver.
- Close unnecessary CPU-, GPU-, and VRAM-heavy background applications.
- Let shader compilation finish before evaluating frame rate.
- Enable Options > HUD > Performance if you are diagnosing CPU, GPU, VRAM, or frame-pacing problems.
- Start with a frame-rate cap if frame pacing is unstable.
- Lower texture settings first when VRAM is close to its limit.
- Lower CPU-heavy geometry, crowd, AI, lighting, and effects settings when the processor is the bottleneck.
Common PC problems and fixes
Shaders take a long time or keep rebuilding
- Do not cancel shader compilation immediately.
- Close unnecessary CPU-heavy applications.
- Confirm that the game is fully updated.
- Confirm that your GPU driver is current.
- Wait for the process to complete before starting the campaign.
- Expect a rebuild after hardware changes, driver updates, a reinstall, Steam file verification, or certain patches.
- If it repeatedly restarts without one of those triggers, contact official support instead of deleting arbitrary files repeatedly.
Shader compilation is CPU-intensive, so a high processor load during this stage does not automatically indicate a broken installation.
CPU usage is high
First confirm that shaders have finished building, update the game and driver, and close CPU-intensive background applications. Then enable Options > HUD > Performance to identify whether the CPU is actually limiting frame rate.
If the GPU has spare capacity, Naughty Dog suggests trying a higher resolution or texture setting to shift more work toward the graphics processor. You can also set a frame-rate limit at Options > Display > Framerate Cap.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11When necessary, reduce these CPU-heavy settings:
- Options > Graphics > Geometry Settings > Draw Distance.
- Options > Graphics > Lighting Settings > Directional Shadow Distance.
- Options > Graphics > Lighting Settings > Dynamic Lights Quality.
- Options > Graphics > Reflections Settings > Real-Time Reflections Quality.
- Options > Graphics > Visual Effects Settings > Effects Density.
- Options > Graphics > Visual Effects Settings > Volumetric Effects Quality.
- Options > Graphics > Misc Settings > Animation Quality.
- Options > Graphics > Misc Settings > Ambient Character Density.
- Options > Graphics > Misc Settings > AI Quality.
As a last resort, Naughty Dog documents the launch argument cores <num>. For example:
cores 14On Steam, open Library, right-click the game, choose Properties > General > Launch Options, and enter the argument. On Epic, open your profile icon, choose Settings, expand the The Last of Us Part I drop-down, and use Additional Command Line Arguments. Limiting the number of cores may reduce CPU usage, but it can also reduce performance; it is not a guaranteed fix.
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VRAM usage is high or textures look unstable
Enable the performance monitor at Options > HUD > Performance. Update the game and GPU driver, close applications that consume GPU memory, and reduce settings with significant VRAM impact:
- Dynamic Objects Level of Detail.
- Characters Level of Detail.
- Environment Level of Detail.
- Dynamic Objects Texture Quality.
- Characters Texture Quality.
- Environment Texture Quality.
- Visual Effects Texture Quality.
- Texture Streaming Rate.
- Image-Based Lighting.
- Screen-Space Reflections.
- Screen-Space Sub-Surface Scattering.
- Depth of Field.
- Motion Blur Quality.
- Bloom Resolution.
If your card has only 4 GB of VRAM, stay realistic about the target: that is the publisher’s minimum capacity, while 8 GB is the recommended amount. Lowering texture quality can help more than reducing unrelated shadow settings when the VRAM meter is full.
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Low frame rate or stutter
Use this order of operations:
- Update the game.
- Update the GPU driver.
- Finish shader compilation.
- Confirm the game is installed on an SSD.
- Use the in-game performance HUD to identify the bottleneck.
- Cap the frame rate.
- Lower texture quality if VRAM is near its limit.
- Lower CPU-heavy geometry, crowd, AI, lighting, and effects settings if the CPU is limiting performance.
- Use FSR or DLSS where supported by your hardware and driver.
- Do not assume every 8 GB graphics card will deliver the same result at the High preset.
Launch-era reviews reported unusually long shader compilation, CPU limitations, stutter, and instability. Later patches brought performance and stability improvements, so those reviews are useful historical context but should not be treated as current benchmarks for every system.
Audio pops, clicks, or missing dialogue
- For pops and clicks, open Options > Audio > Compatibility > Latency, select Medium or High, then restart the game.
- For missing dialogue or cinematic audio, try Options > Audio > Compatibility > Output Mode > Traditional.
- Make sure Windows’ speaker layout matches the game’s selected output-channel configuration.
- If you use third-party spatial-audio software, try Traditional output mode because Windows Spatial Sound can bypass third-party processing.
Controller input is inconsistent
- Use a wired connection first.
- Connect a DualSense or DualSense Edge by USB if you want detailed haptics.
- With a wireless DualSense, expect rumble and adaptive triggers but not detailed wireless haptics.
- Confirm the launcher and game are recognizing the intended controller.
- Check that the button prompts correspond to the controller you are using.
Steam Deck performance
The Last of Us Part I became Steam Deck Verified with patch v1.1.0. Verified means it meets Valve’s compatibility criteria; it is not a promise of high-refresh-rate performance or console-like performance at every setting.
Naughty Dog recommends:
- Update the game to v1.1.0 or newer.
- Apply the optimized-settings prompt when it appears.
- Keep Steam Deck system software updated.
- Restart the Deck after a system update.
- Leave the 30 fps cap enabled for the best performance results.
See Naughty Dog’s Steam Deck support article for the publisher’s recommendations.
Is the PC version worth buying?
Buy the PC version if you want the remake without owning a PS5, or if you value keyboard and mouse controls, ultrawide support, higher-resolution options, extensive accessibility controls, and the ability to tune graphics settings. A system around the recommended tier, with 16 GB of RAM and an SSD, is a much more comfortable starting point than a machine that only barely meets minimum requirements.
Consider the PS5 version instead if you want a standardized hardware experience and do not want to troubleshoot shader compilation, drivers, CPU limits, VRAM pressure, or frame pacing. The PC version is a particularly cautious purchase for a system with an older HDD, less than 16 GB of RAM, or a 4 GB GPU if you expect 1080p High or better.
Also choose another version or expectation if you want multiplayer, PS5 save transfer, or a free PC copy. Part I is a story-focused remake, not a Factions replacement, and console ownership does not provide cross-buy access to Windows.
Alternatives and recommended story order
- The Last of Us Part I on PS5: The more standardized console option, without the PC version’s keyboard, mouse, ultrawide, and graphics-setting flexibility.
- The Last of Us Remastered on PS4: The older version rather than the remake. It includes the original game’s Factions multiplayer where available, but it does not provide the PC remake’s visual and technical feature set.
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered: A separate sequel, not a starting point for newcomers. The recommended story order is Part I, Left Behind, then Part II.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Last of Us Part I on PC include Left Behind?
Yes. Both the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions include the complete main story and the Left Behind prequel chapter. Digital Deluxe does not add another story expansion.
Do I need a PSN account to play the PC version?
PlayStation’s current general PC guidance says a PSN account is not currently required for this title unless the product specifically states otherwise. You do need the account for your chosen storefront: Steam for a Steam purchase or Epic Games for an Epic purchase.
Can I transfer my PS5 save to the Windows version?
No. PlayStation’s current PC FAQ says save data cannot currently be transferred between the PS4/PS5 and PC versions. Console and PC purchases are also separate.
Does the PC version have Factions multiplayer?
No. The PC release is single-player only and does not include the original game’s Factions multiplayer mode.
Is The Last of Us Part I good on Steam Deck?
It is Steam Deck Verified from patch v1.1.0 onward, but Naughty Dog recommends optimized settings and a 30 fps cap. Verified status should not be interpreted as a promise of high-refresh-rate performance.
The Bottom Line
For most Windows players, buy the Standard Edition from Steam or Epic, install it on an SSD, and let shader compilation finish before playing. The remake includes the full story and Left Behind, but no Factions multiplayer. Digital Deluxe is only worthwhile if its early gameplay unlocks and weapon cosmetics appeal to you. A PC near the minimum specification can run the game under the publisher’s lowest target, but a recommended-tier system is a safer choice for smooth 1080p play and fewer compromises.
Quick Recap
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.
