Although modern features like DualSense support and 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 when The Last of Us 2 launched 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 the increased power of the PS5 at its fingertips, if anything the studio has taken steps to ensure Part 1 will 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 all The 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 of The 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 in The Last of Us Part 1 as 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 of The Last of Us Part 1 have 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 that debuted in Part 2. Most of Part 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’ for The 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 its design process for Part 1 as 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 though The 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 make Part 1’s survival mechanics as accessible as possible, Naughty Dog has brought over several 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 options can 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
Since the dawn of 3D gaming, motion sickness has been an all-too frequent problem for many players, but Naughty Dog’s efforts to make The Last of Us Part 1 as 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 many that Naughty Dog has taken The Last of Us Part 1 as an opportunity to advance its accessibility options.
One of the features that Naughty Dog has spotlighted in the run-up to The Last of Us Part 1’s release is 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 from Part 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 revealed about The Last of Us Part 1 so 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 1 is scheduled to release on September 2 on PS5. A PC port is also in development.
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