In the version 1.05 patch that is dropping August 13, The Last of Us Part 2 players will be treated to the new Grounded difficulty. This is the “ultimate test of skill” according to the official Naughty Dog blog and will make enemies deadlier while also making materials and ammo that help you survive much more scarce. This new difficulty level will also remove invaluable tools such as the Listen mode, deactivating elements of the HUD and more.
It should be noted that in-game pre-order bonuses and some options and gameplay modifiers will also be disabled during Grounded difficulty gameplay, but Naughty Dog doesn’t get into specifics.
Permadeath is also being added to The Last of Us Part 2 with this upcoming update. This custom mode will test players by having them complete the entire game without dying. One death and you’ll have to start over from the beginning.
Players who may find this new Permadeath mode too difficult, you can enable checkpoints on a per-chapter or per-act basis. One example is if you die on Day One, you’ll have to play the entire day over again.
While both new difficulty settings are tough enough, players will be rewarded with two new trophies for their efforts. The first will be rewarded for completing The Last of Us Part 2 with Permadeath enabled while the other can be won by beating the game on Grounded difficulty.
So if you’re looking for a new challenge after completing the main story, be sure to test your luck with Grounded and Permadeath.
In addition to the new difficulty settings, the upcoming patch will also unlock new gameplay modifiers. One Shot or Touch of Death enable one-hit kills or Infinite Ammo amongst others to add new ways to play. There are also new visual modifiers that will transform gameplay into 8-bit versions of what it originally looks like for that vintage gaming feel.
Here are a list of new gameplay settings that will allow for new experiences in The Last of Us Part 2.
Mirror WorldMirror on DeathSlow MotionBullet Speed ModeInfinite AmmoInfinite CraftingInfinite Melee DurabilityInfinite Listen Mode RangeOne ShotTouch of Death8-bit Audio4-bit AudioHelium AudioXenon AudioSaves now display playtime up to the secondFilm Grain Adjustment optionDisable Listen Mode optionMotion Sensor Function Aiming optionArc Throw HUD Display optionAiming Acceleration Scale optionAiming Ramp Power Scale optionAccessibility improvements to Ground Zero encounter, collectible tracking, Enhanced Listen Mode for collectibles, and rope gameplay
All of these modifiers can be accessed via the Extras menu and unlocked after completing the game.
There will also be new features for speedrunners who can have their playtime shown in each save file, the ability to disable Listen Mode and much more. When the official patch notes for The Last of Us Part 2 release we’ll learn the specifics of this new version, and we’ll be sure to update this section when it does.
The Last of Us Part 2 is available now for PlayStation 4.
What do you think of the changes coming to The Last of Us Part 2? Which of the new features are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments section.
