Five years after release, The Last of Us Part II just got one of the most unexpected updates ever. Naughty Dog dropped a new chronological story mode that completely changes how you experience Ellie and Abby’s journey through Seattle.
Here’s the thing—nobody saw this coming. Game updates usually focus on bug fixes or minor tweaks. But Naughty Dog went ahead and rebuilt the entire narrative structure of their biggest game. This comes while the studio is deep in development on their next big project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, making the timing even more surprising.
What’s Actually New
The chronological mode does exactly what it sounds like. Instead of jumping between timelines and perspectives, you now experience the story as it unfolds in real time. But there’s a catch—you’ll be starting with a bunch of flashbacks and cutscenes, which completely changes how the game opens.
The original game threw you into flashbacks, switched between Ellie and Abby at dramatic moments, and mixed past and present events. This new mode strips all that away. You start from the earliest events and work your way forward.
The free update is live now as patch 2.1.0 for PS5 and patch 1.5 for PC (Steam and Epic). It’s included at no cost if you own The Last of Us Part II Remastered. The original PS4 version doesn’t get this feature, but you can upgrade to the remaster for $10.
Why the Original Structure Was Controversial
The Last of Us Part II made some bold narrative choices. About halfway through, the game yanked you away from Ellie and forced you to play as Abby—the person who killed Joel. For many players, this felt jarring. You’d just spent hours getting invested in Ellie’s revenge quest, only to suddenly see things from the “enemy’s” perspective.
The game also used flashbacks heavily. You’d be fighting through Seattle in the present, then suddenly you’re watching Joel teach Ellie guitar years earlier. These timeline jumps served the story’s themes about memory and trauma, but they could be confusing.
According to Gameranx, developers wondered how the story might have played out in a more traditional sense. Season two of HBO’s adaptation used the same structure. Critics and fans had mixed reactions, with some saying the non-linear approach hurt the pacing. With the TV series wrapped up, fans who can’t wait to see what happens next are now jumping into the game. According to Gameranx, The Last of Us Part II Remastered might be “the best way to experience it right now.”
How Chronological Mode Changes Everything
Playing chronologically means you’ll bounce between Ellie and Abby much more frequently. This also means you’ll be jumping back and forth between their different play styles more often—Ellie’s stealth and crafting approach versus Abby’s more direct combat style.
Naughty Dog’s Jonathan Dornbush explains: “Players will be able to see how Ellie being gifted a guitar flows so neatly into her learning to play, for example, while the journey through Seattle will showcase the fascinating parallels between Ellie and Abby’s crisscrossing journeys.”
You’ll see how their actions directly impact one another in ways that weren’t obvious before. According to TheSixthAxis, this could have helped address some of the “disliked narrative points in both game and TV show.”
But there’s a catch. The game warns you that pacing might feel “off.” Tutorials for certain abilities might appear after you’ve already used them. This happens because the original game was designed around its non-linear structure.
The Extras You Get
Complete the chronological mode and you unlock two new character skins. Joel gets dressed up as Nathan Drake, and Tommy becomes Sam Drake—both characters from Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. These skins work specifically in the No Return roguelike survival mode.
There are also new trophies tied specifically to completing the chronological campaign. For completionists, this gives you a reason to play through the entire game again.
Why This Update Matters Now
The timing feels significant. This update arrives just months after HBO’s season two finished airing, and days after Neil Druckmann announced he’s stepping back from the TV series to focus on game development.
Season two didn’t land as well as the first season. The non-linear structure that worked in the game felt less effective on TV. Maybe that’s why Druckmann is returning to focus on his main job—and why this chronological mode exists at all.
It’s also worth noting that Naughty Dog is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. This update feels like a gift to long-time fans who’ve supported the studio through multiple console generations.
Should You Try It?
Naughty Dog still recommends playing the original version first. The non-linear structure was their artistic vision, and it’s how they want newcomers to experience the story.
But if you’ve already played Part II, this could be fascinating. You’ll gain new insights into how the narrative was constructed. Seeing Ellie and Abby’s stories intercut more frequently might help you understand their connection better. According to TheSixthAxis, the remaster refines “a much misunderstood masterpiece,” and this new mode might help players appreciate the story’s complexity even more.
The chronological mode also offers a different gameplay rhythm. Instead of spending hours with one character’s combat style, you’ll switch between them regularly.
Bottom Line
This free update transforms Part II into almost a different game. The chronological structure won’t fix the story issues some players had, but it might help you see the narrative in a new light.
After five years, it’s impressive that Naughty Dog is still finding ways to surprise players. Most developers would have moved on completely by now. But here we are, getting a major structural overhaul that nobody asked for but everybody will probably try.
If you own Part II Remastered, download the update. If you don’t, that $10 upgrade is looking more tempting now. Sometimes the best way to experience a story you thought you knew is to experience it completely differently.