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After months of speculation and insider leaks, The last of us part 1‘s release on PS5 is now just a few weeks away. Then on September 2, owners of Sony’s latest console can dive into the latest iteration of Naughty Dog’s beloved PS3 era classic. Although the debate raged online over the $70 price tag, the studio has taken steps to allay these fears. From a visual perspective alone, the game looks like a definite step up from the PS4’s remaster.

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While modern features like DualSense support and 3D audio will undoubtedly improve the experience as well, these probably all pale in comparison to any of the other areas Naughty Dog has covered. The last of us part 1Especially the extensive accessibility options should not be forgotten or understated. Thanks to the studio’s determination to include each of them and its commitment to inclusivity, it’s possible that many players will be able to enjoy the game for the very first time.

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The Colorblind Mode of Part 1

When The last of us 2 Naughty Dog launched on PS4 in 2020 and has been praised for its commitment to increasing accessibility for players. It will come as no surprise to many that the studio hasn’t let go of this philosophy with its upcoming remake. In any case, with the increased power of the PS5 at your fingertips, the studio has taken steps to ensure Part 1 will be able to be played by even more players. More than 60 options have already been promised, which is more than the studio has been able to find time to talk about.

So far it has been concluded that everything The last of us 2Accessibility options will return in September. While much has been done about the remake that brings the parts of the franchise together from a gameplay and visual perspective, the same can be said when it comes to accessibility. in one of The last of us part 1In recent promotional videos, an option to enable a “colorblind mode” was shown on the screen as just one example of this.

This option seems to work the same way in The last of us part 1 as it did in the second chapter of the franchise. When the colorblind option is enabled, eye-catching colored outlines can be applied to characters and enemies to help visually impaired players keep up with the action. While simultaneously muted the color palette of the environment, this mode can also highlight important items in the world of Naughty Dog, making exploring the game across the board more enjoyable for more players.

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The controller options of part 1

Despite Naughty Dog’s efforts to protect its employees, large parts of The last of us part 1 are still leaked online. While these leaks have likely ruined the game for some players, a host of accessibility options have been revealed by them. Players now know that the game will include the ‘Alternate Control’ options that debuted in Part 2. the most of Part 1‘s button inputs and functions can be reworked to make them more manageable. Considering how it can be challenging for some players to hold down or quickly tap a button, the option to customize it will probably be welcome again.


Part 1 Visual Aids

At the Game Awards 2020, Naughty Dog won the event’s inaugural ‘Innovation in Accessibility Award’ for: The last of us 2. The dedication to create the most accessible game that won the studio that trophy has remained a central tenant in the design process for Part 1 also. Unsurprisingly, according to the leaked version of the game, players will find a large number of visual aids in the menus. In addition to the aforementioned colorblind mode, there are also HUD and contrast adjustments available, in addition to a handy screen magnifier.

Part 1 gameplay options

Even The last of us‘ story and subsequent exploration of humanity after the fall of society is the biggest draw of the franchise, the gameplay part of the equation is important too. In an attempt to Part 1To make the survival mechanics as accessible as possible, Naughty Dog has adopted several options from the PS4 era. In the leaked version of the game, Part 2The navigation and movement aids are in place and found to be correct, which should hopefully help visually impaired players navigate the world.

Based on the leaks, The last of us part 1The gameplay-focused accessibility options can seemingly be divided into two categories. While traversal and puzzle options are currently found in one section, another tab called “Combat Accessibility” is dedicated to making combat a less intimidating experience. Like the second part of the series, the option to reduce the enemy’s effectiveness can be adjusted on several fronts, in addition to a handy slow-motion mode.

Help with motion sickness part 1

Motion sickness has been an all-too-common problem for many players since the dawn of 3D gaming, but Naughty Dog’s efforts to The last of us part 1 As accessible as possible, the studio has naturally addressed this issue. Being able to adjust the distance and camera shake, in addition to the level of general motion blur, are just some of the options found in the game’s leaked build. Everything should make the experience more comfortable for players prone to motion sickness.

The audio options of part 1

Since the PS3 era, Naughty Dog can be said to have been one of the driving forces that propelled Sony’s first party family forward. Motion capture technology, cinematic action, and an emphasis on storytelling have all become standard in most of the publisher’s output, in part because of its efforts. With this groundbreaking context in mind, it should come as no surprise to many that Naughty Dog chose The last of us part 1 as an opportunity to improve accessibility options.

One of the features Naughty Dog highlighted leading up to The last of us part 1‘s release are the brand new audio descriptions of the game. As that name suggests, players on PS5 can toggle an option that can add a narrator to the mix. With other screen readers and audio tools returning from Part 2, most parts of the game will be covered on this front. While it may be conceptually simplistic, the importance of this cannot be underestimated. This one option alone allows visually impaired players to interact with the game on a whole new level.


From everything that has been revealed about The last of us part 1 so far it’s clear that making the game more inclusive has been one of the driving forces behind the studio. While it’s easy to look at the visual innovations that have been made, it’s these features that will arguably have the greatest positive impact. Based on comments from the game’s director, Matthew Gallant, who suggests that no other first party studio has movie scene descriptions in development, it makes sense that more groundbreaking accessibility options will also be revealed in the future.

The last of us part 1 is scheduled to release on September 2 on PS5. A PC port is also under development.

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