If The Last of Us Part I shows a horizontal split where one part of the image appears out of sync with another, start on PC by updating the game, checking your display’s refresh rate, and testing the game’s V-Sync and frame-rate cap. Naughty Dog documented a fix for cases where tearing persisted with V-Sync enabled, so an old game version can matter. Flashing, colored artifacts, or brightness pulsing are not necessarily screen tearing and may need a different diagnosis.
First, identify the symptom and platform
The official PC sources refer to the remake as The Last of Us Part I. “Last of Us 1” is common shorthand, but this guide’s specific setting and patch advice applies to the PC version. If you are playing on PS5, use the separate guidance below.
- Likely tearing: a horizontal discontinuity makes the top and bottom portions of a moving image appear misaligned. Steam Support says disabled V-Sync can result in tearing because you may not see all rendered frames: Steam Support: Refresh Rate and Vertical Sync.
- Other visual symptoms: colored flashes, brightness pulsing, or artifacts do not by themselves establish tearing. Note whether the problem happens in the game only, in its menus, or in other games and content as well.
- Platform matters: the documented V-Sync, frame-cap, and game-patch guidance below is for PC. Do not assume a PC fix applies to PS5.
Fix tearing on the PC version
1. Update the game before changing more settings
Naughty Dog’s PC v1.1.0 patch notes specifically say the update addressed cases where screen tearing could still occur with V-Sync enabled: The Last of Us Part I PC v1.1.0 Patch Notes. This establishes that the issue was addressed in that patch; it does not mean every current PC setup or every kind of flicker is fixed. Check that your installed game is up to date before judging V-Sync ineffective.
2. Confirm the display’s selected refresh rate
In Windows, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and check the selected refresh rate for the display you are using. The available rates depend on the display and graphics hardware/software. Steam Support recommends checking this setting as part of troubleshooting tearing; its guidance is general, not a diagnosis of a particular game configuration.
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NVIDIA describes the general mechanism this way: “When VSync is disabled in-game, screen tearing is observed when the frame rate exceeds the refresh rate of the display (120 frames per second on a 60Hz display, for example).” That example explains the relationship between frame output and refresh rate; it is not a measured result for The Last of Us Part I. See NVIDIA Adaptive VSync.
3. Test V-Sync and the frame-rate cap in the game
The PC version includes both V-Sync and a frame-rate cap. Naughty Dog’s FAQ places the cap at Options > Display > Framerate Cap: The Last of Us Part I PC FAQ.
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- Open Options > Display and locate Framerate Cap.
- Note the existing cap and V-Sync setting so you can restore them if the change worsens the image.
- Test V-Sync enabled and disabled, one change at a time. If tearing appears or disappears, record the result rather than assuming it explains other flashes or artifacts.
- Test a frame-rate cap appropriate to your display’s selected refresh rate, then compare the result in the same scene or camera movement.
There is no single setting guaranteed to fix every case. The useful outcome of testing is to establish whether the symptom changes with synchronization or frame limiting.
4. Update the graphics driver
Naughty Dog’s FAQ recommends updating the GPU driver from its manufacturer and restarting the PC after installation. Follow the driver instructions for your graphics hardware, restart, then check the same game scene and settings again. Avoid changing several driver and game options at once; otherwise, it is harder to tell which change mattered.
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If the issue is on PS5
The PC-specific patch notes and menu path above do not establish a PS5 fix. The available official information does not confirm that VRR is a general cause of flicker in this game or that disabling it is a reliable remedy. Identify whether the symptom is a horizontal split, flashing, or another artifact; check for official console and game updates; and review the display connection and settings. If the problem persists, contact PlayStation Support with the symptom and setup details rather than treating an anecdotal VRR suggestion as a confirmed fix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to record if tearing or flicker continues
These details help distinguish a game-specific synchronization problem from a broader display or graphics issue:
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- Platform and game version
- GPU model and driver version on PC
- Display model, selected refresh rate, and connection
- Whether V-Sync and the frame-rate cap are enabled, and the cap value
- What the image does: horizontal split, colored flashes, artifacts, brightness pulsing, or another symptom
- Whether it occurs only in The Last of Us Part I, or also in menus and other content
PlayStation’s PC page lists vendor-published targets of 30 fps at 720p on Low for minimum performance and an average 60 fps at 1080p on High for recommended performance; both configurations list 16 GB RAM. These are published requirements and targets, not independent benchmarks or a diagnosis of flicker: The Last of Us Part I for PC.
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