Rapid Piracy and Mixed Reception for The Last of Us Part 2
The recent release of The Last of Us Part 2 on April 3, 2025, has been met with swift piracy, as the game appeared on various torrent sites within a mere 24 hours. This rapid dissemination allows eager players from all corners of the globe to experience the game, particularly in regions where access to the PlayStation Network is limited, such as Russia and several other areas.
While the exact impact of this early piracy on sales remains uncertain, initial indications suggest that The Last of Us Part 2 is not performing as robustly as its predecessor. According to data from SteamDB, the peak concurrent player count for the first installment reached an impressive 36,496 two years ago, whereas the sequel has seen a maximum of only 28,134 players. This discrepancy may point to a lingering affection for the original title, which has achieved a cult status as a PlayStation 3 exclusive that was unavailable for an extended period.
Sales figures may also be influenced by the less-than-ideal experience many players had with the PC optimization of the first game. Despite having modest minimum system requirements, players reported significant performance issues, including frustrating frame drops and lengthy shader compilation times that could extend for hours. In contrast, while the second installment appears to perform better in this regard, reports of various bugs and graphical artifacts have surfaced online, indicating that some players are still encountering issues.
Digital Foundry conducted a thorough analysis of the game and concluded that it surpasses its predecessor in several aspects. However, they noted the presence of abrupt frame rate drops, even on high-end systems, which detracts from the overall immersion. Additionally, the game demands a powerful graphics card, further complicating accessibility for some players.
