The Last of Us Release Timeline: Every Major Date and Platform

Overview and Original Release

The Last of Us first launched as a PlayStation 3 exclusive in July 2013, marking Naughty Dog’s emotionally grounded action-adventure milestone. Below is a concise yet comprehensive breakdown of every major The Last of Us release date, platform upgrade, and regional detail, from the original to the current remaster roadmap.

2013 Launch Details

Developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, The Last of Us debuted on 14 June 2013 in North America, Australia, and select European markets, with other European regions receiving it by 19 June 2013. The base game shipped as a single-disc title for PlayStation 3, requiring day-one patches to apply critical fixes and balance tweaks that significantly shaped the early experience. Physical copies included voucher codes for pre-order bonuses; digital storefronts offered tiered pricing and season pass options.

Left Behind and Its Standalone Release

The story-focused standalone episode Left Behind arrived on 19 February 2014 on PS3. Serving as a narrative bridge that deepens Ellie’s backstory, it became available as a separate purchase and was later bundled with the main game in several retail editions and remastered collections. Though brief, it remains a pivotal piece of the overall arc.

Remastered Releases

The Last of Us Remastered (2014)

Released on 29 July 2014 in North America and 31 July 2014 in Europe for PlayStation 4, the remaster brought higher resolution textures, improved particle effects, and trophy support, while largely preserving the core gameplay and story. PlayStation 3 owners could upgrade to the PS4 version at a discounted rate in many regions, subject to local SKU rules and licensing windows.

PS4 Native Patch (2015)

On 29 July 2015, a title update enabled PS4 owners to run the game at 1080p resolution, refining visual fidelity on the original platform hardware without altering the underlying design.

The Last of Us Part I (2022)

This remake for PlayStation 5 launched on 2 September 2022, featuring a rebuilt lighting and animation pipeline, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and a Photo Mode designed to support creators and accessibility needs.

The Last of Us Part II (2020)

Released globally on 19 June 2020, Part II expanded the universe with a more cinematic presentation, refined combat, and next-gen features native to PS5.

Current and Upcoming Releases

As of mid-2024, The Last of Us titles remain first-party exclusives on PlayStation platforms, with cross-buy often applying between PS4 and PS5 versions where supported. No official date has been announced for a second PS5 remaster beyond the existing Part I rebuild, though industry rumors occasionally surface speculative windows. Players are advised to rely on publisher announcements for SKU details, regional availability, and backward compatibility specifics on future hardware.

Key Dates at a Glance

Platform and Regional Considerations

Region locking has historically been strict for The Last of Us titles on PlayStation, with physical copies tied to territory-specific SKUs and DLC access varying by region. Online features, leaderboards, and language options depend on both platform account settings and local publishing agreements. When upgrading between PS4 and PS5, check whether your account and ownership records support seamless backward compatibility and cross-buy offers in your market.

What Stays Constant and What Changes

The core story, characters, and key set pieces remain consistent across remasters, while visual fidelity, performance modes, and control schemes evolve. Each generation of hardware introduced meaningful quality-of-life improvements—haptics, adaptive triggers, higher frame rates, and Photo Mode—without rewriting the underlying narrative intent. Upcoming announcements will likely focus on presentation tweaks rather than structural changes to the established plot.

Quick Comparison