How has The Last of Us Part I PC port improved since launch?

The Last of Us Part I launched in March 2023 with one of the most troubled PC ports in recent memory — widespread shader compilation stutters, VRAM overallocation crashes, and CPU bottleneck issues affected the vast majority of players regardless of hardware tier. Naughty Dog and Iron Galaxy released over a dozen patches in the months following launch that significantly improved shader pre-compilation, reduced VRAM usage, and fixed NPC streaming hitches. As of late 2023 the game was in a substantially better state, though it remains more demanding than its quality tier would suggest — the recommended GPU score of 88 is high relative to the graphical output. Installing the latest patch before playing is essential.

What are the minimum specs to run The Last of Us Part I without crashes?

Post-patch, the minimum PC requirements for stable play in The Last of Us Part I are: CPU — Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600; GPU — GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB or RX 5700 XT; RAM — 16 GB (the game is notably RAM-hungry, and 8 GB systems see more hitches); Storage — 100 GB SSD. The game's shader pre-compilation screen at launch must be allowed to complete fully — interrupting it causes in-game stutter on first load. If crashes persist after patching, verifying game files via Steam and clearing the shader cache folder (`%localappdata%\Naughty Dog\TheLasOfUs`) resolves most post-patch instability reports.

Can I Run The Last of Us Part I on RTX 4080?

The Last of Us Part I FPS Benchmark and Performance Analysis

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080Game: The Last of Us Part IUpdated: Mar 30, 2026

The Last of Us Part I is playable on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. Expect roughly 82 FPS at 1080p high — smooth for most players. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 sits in the enthusiast tier — here's how that translates to real frame rates in The Last of Us Part I at 1080p and 1440p.

The Last of Us Part I FPS Benchmarks on RTX 4080

Resolution	Settings Preset	Avg FPS	1% Low FPS	Verdict
1080p	Competitive (Low)	103 FPS	68 FPS	Good
1080p	High	82 FPS	55 FPS	Good
1440p	High	61 FPS	39 FPS	Playable
1440p	Ultra	46 FPS	29 FPS	Playable
4K	High	38 FPS	23 FPS	Low

Benchmarks are estimated by our performance engine. Actual results may vary.

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Best Settings for The Last of Us Part I on RTX 4080

82+FPS1080p Competitive

Display Mode: Fullscreen
Resolution: 1920×1080
V-Sync: Disabled
Texture Quality: High
Shadow Quality: Medium
Anti-Aliasing: FXAA
Effects Quality: Medium
Post-Processing: Medium
Ambient Occlusion: Disabled

Performance Analysis

At 1080p high, our model places NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 near 82 FPS in The Last of Us Part I. At 1440p, that typically translates to around 61 FPS with similar quality targets. This places the card in the enthusiast tier for this title, with a smooth experience profile. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 provides smooth gameplay in The Last of Us Part I, with enough headroom for visual tweaks.

The Last of Us Part I beautifully remakes a classic narrative journey with stunning post-apocalyptic environments and incredibly lifelike character animations. To meet the minimum system demands, your PC should have a AMD Radeon RX 470 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970. For optimal performance and smooth rendering, it’s recommended to play with a AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 supports DLSS 3 with Frame Generation in compatible titles. In games like The Last of Us Part I that support it, Frame Generation can push perceived frame rates well beyond the base estimate above — particularly useful at 1440p where the GPU is more heavily loaded.

Use a medium/high mix and prioritize stable frame times over peak FPS spikes.
Use selective ray tracing (shadows/reflections) and avoid ultra RT presets.
Disable heavy post-processing options first for easy gains

In short, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a smooth option for The Last of Us Part I when tuned correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How has The Last of Us Part I PC port improved since launch?: The Last of Us Part I launched in March 2023 with one of the most troubled PC ports in recent memory — widespread shader compilation stutters, VRAM overallocation crashes, and CPU bottleneck issues affected the vast majority of players regardless of hardware tier. Naughty Dog and Iron Galaxy released over a dozen patches in the months following launch that significantly improved shader pre-compilation, reduced VRAM usage, and fixed NPC streaming hitches. As of late 2023 the game was in a substantially better state, though it remains more demanding than its quality tier would suggest — the recommended GPU score of 88 is high relative to the graphical output. Installing the latest patch before playing is essential.
What are the minimum specs to run The Last of Us Part I without crashes?: Post-patch, the minimum PC requirements for stable play in The Last of Us Part I are: CPU — Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600; GPU — GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB or RX 5700 XT; RAM — 16 GB (the game is notably RAM-hungry, and 8 GB systems see more hitches); Storage — 100 GB SSD. The game's shader pre-compilation screen at launch must be allowed to complete fully — interrupting it causes in-game stutter on first load. If crashes persist after patching, verifying game files via Steam and clearing the shader cache folder (`%localappdata%\Naughty Dog\TheLasOfUs`) resolves most post-patch instability reports.