Naughty Dog and Nixxes have just released a new update for The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and best of all, it’s free—you don’t have to pay a dime for it.

For the first time, players can now experience the story of The Last of Us Part II in chronological order. If you’ve played before, you know the narrative isn’t told linearly: Ellie’s and Abby’s motivations, realizations, and emotional stakes all play out across flashbacks and present-day threads. While this design was intentional, the creators at Naughty Dog always wondered what it would be like to see the story unfold chronologically.

Thanks to the new Chronological mode, the team says players will get even deeper insight into the narrative. You’ll see, for instance, how Ellie being gifted a guitar connects to her learning to play, or how the journey through Seattle highlights the stunning parallels between Ellie and Abby’s crossing paths. You’ll be able to witness just how closely their fates intertwine, and how their actions impact each other.

Bringing together the story of The Last of Us Part II chronologically was no small feat, since the original game’s structure is meticulously crafted. Developers recommend that new players experience the story as it was originally intended, but the hard work on this new mode means veterans get to enjoy this chapter in a whole new way. The team also wanted to reward those who jump into this transformative experience.

Along with new trophies for completing the narrative in chronological order, you’ll unlock two new—and possibly familiar—skins: in No Return, you can play as Joel dressed as Nathan Drake or Tommy as Sam Drake. With Naughty Dog celebrating its 40th anniversary, the studio is delighted to spotlight its history with these special extras. These skins are unlocked by finishing the Chronological mode and are available in No Return, the roguelike survival mode in Part II Remastered.

The new The Last of Us Part II Remastered update is available now for PlayStation 5 (Patch 2.1.0) and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store (Patch 1.5). The update introduces Chronological mode and includes numerous bug fixes and performance improvements.

Source: Gematsu, PS Blog