After months of speculation and insider leaks,The Last of Us Part 1’s release on PS5 is now only a few short weeks away. On September 2, owners of Sony’s latest console will subsequently be able to dive into the newest version ofNaughty Dog’s beloved PS3-era classic. Although debate has raged online in regard to its $70 price tag, the studio has taken steps to try and ease these fears. From a visual perspective alone, the game looks like a clear step-up from the PS4’s remaster.
Although modernfeatures like DualSense supportand 3D audio will no doubt enhance the experience as well, these arguably all pale in comparison to one of the other areas Naughty Dog has discussed.The Last of Us Part 1’s extensive accessibility options specifically should not be forgotten or understated. Thanks to the studio’s determination to incorporate each of them, and commitment to inclusivity, it’s possible that plenty of players will be able to enjoy the game for the very first time.
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Part 1’s Colorblind Mode
Back whenThe Last of Us 2launched on the PS4 in 2020, Naughty Dog was praised for its commitment to increasing player accessibility. It won’t come as a surprise to many that the studio hasn’t abandoned this philosophy with its upcoming remake. With theincreased power of the PS5at its fingertips, if anything the studio has taken steps to ensurePart 1will be playable by even more players. Over 60 options have already been promised, which is more than the studio has been able to find time to talk about.
So far it’s been inferred that allThe Last of Us 2’s accessibility options are set to return this September. Even though a big deal has been made about the remake bringing the sections of the franchise together from a gameplay and visual perspective, the same can be said when it comes to accessibility. In one ofThe Last of Us Part 1’s recent promotional videos, an option to enable a ‘Colorblind Mode’ was shown on-screen as just one example of this.
This option appears to function similarly inThe Last of Us Part 1as it did in the franchise’s second chapter. With the colorblind option enabled, striking colored outlines can be applied to characters and enemies in order to help visually impaired players keep track of the action. With the environment’s color palette muted at the same time, this mode can also emphasize key items in Naughty Dog’s world - subsequently making exploration of the game more enjoyable across the board for more players.
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Part 1’s Controller Options
Despite Naughty Dog’s best efforts to safeguard its employees, large chunks ofThe Last of Us Part 1have still leaked online. Even though these leaks have likely spoiled the game for some players, a host of accessibility options have been revealed through them. Players now know that the game will feature the ‘Alternate Control’ options thatdebuted inPart 2. Most ofPart 1’s button inputs and functions can be reworked to make them more manageable as a result. Considering how holding down or rapidly tapping a button can be challenging for some players, the option to tweak these will likely be welcomed once again.
Part 1’s Visual Aids
During the 2020 Game Awards, Naughty Dog won the event’s inaugural ‘Innovation in Accessibility Award’ forThe Last of Us 2. The commitment to creating the most accessible game possible, which won the studio that trophy, has remained a central tenant in itsdesign process forPart 1as well. Unsurprisingly, according to the leaked version of the game, players will find a raft of visual aid options within the menus. Beyond the aforementioned colorblind mode, HUD and contrast tweaks will also be available, alongside a handy screen magnifier.
Part 1’s Gameplay Options
Even thoughThe Last of Us‘ story and subsequent exploration of humanity after the fall of society is the franchise’s biggest draw, the gameplay part of the equation is important too. In an attempt to makePart 1’s survival mechanics as accessible as possible,Naughty Dog has brought overseveral options from the PS4-era. Within the leaked version of the game,Part 2’s navigation and traversal aids have been found to be present and correct, which should hopefully help visually impaired players navigate the world.
Based on the leaks,The Last of Us Part 1’s gameplay-centric accessibility optionscan seemingly be broken down into two categories. While traversal and puzzle options are currently found in one section, another tab named ‘Combat Accessibility’ is dedicated to making fighting a less intimidating experience. Just like the second part of the series, the option to reduce the enemy’s effectiveness can be tweaked on several fronts, alongside a handy slow-motion mode.
Part 1’s Motion Sickness Assistance
Sincethe dawn of 3D gaming, motion sickness has been an all-too frequent problem for many players, but Naughty Dog’s efforts to makeThe Last of Us Part 1as accessible as possible has naturally seen the studio tackle this issue. Being able to tweak the camera’s distance and shake, alongside the level of general motion blur, are just some of the options that have been found within the leaked-build of the game. All should make the experience more comfortable for players prone to motion sickness.
Part 1’s Audio Options
Since the PS3-era, it can be argued that Naughty Dog has been one of the driving forces that’s pushed Sony’s first party family forward. Motion capture technology, cinematic action, and an emphasis on storytelling, have all become standard across most of the publisher’s output, partly because of its efforts. With this pioneering context in mind, it will be little surprise to manythat Naughty Dog has takenThe Last of Us Part 1as an opportunity to advance its accessibility options.
One of the features that Naughty Dog has spotlighted in the run-up toThe Last of Us Part 1’s releaseis the game’s brand-new cutscene audio descriptions. As that name suggests, players on PS5 will be able to toggle on and off an option that can add a narrator into the mix. WIth other screen reader and audio aids returning fromPart 2, most sections of the game will be covered on this front. While it might be simplistic conceptually, it can’t be understated how big of a deal this is. This one option alone will allow visually impaired players to engage with the game on a whole new level.
From everything that’s been revealedaboutThe Last of Us Part 1so far, it’s clear that making the game more inclusive has been one of the studio’s motivations. While it’s easy to look at the visual innovations that have been made, it’s these features that will arguably have the biggest positive impact. Based on comments from the game’s director Matthew Gallant, which suggest no other first party studio has cutscene descriptions in development, it stands to reason that more pioneering accessibility options will be revealed in the future as well.
The Last of Us Part 1is scheduled to release on September 2 on PS5. A PC port is also in development.
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