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 RX 7900 XT?

The Last of Us Part I FPS Benchmark and Performance Analysis

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTGame: The Last of Us Part IUpdated: Mar 30, 2026

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT handles The Last of Us Part I without major issues. Expect roughly 79 FPS at 1080p high — smooth for most players. This page breaks down expected The Last of Us Part I performance on AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT at 1080p high, including 1440p scaling, optimization tips, and a settings guide.

The Last of Us Part I FPS Benchmarks on RX 7900 XT

Resolution	Settings Preset	Avg FPS	1% Low FPS	Verdict
1080p	Competitive (Low)	99 FPS	66 FPS	Good
1080p	High	79 FPS	53 FPS	Good
1440p	High	58 FPS	37 FPS	Playable
1440p	Ultra	44 FPS	28 FPS	Low
4K	High	36 FPS	21 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 RX 7900 XT

79+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

Our projection for The Last of Us Part I on AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is about 79 FPS at 1080p high. At 1440p, that typically translates to around 58 FPS with similar quality targets. This places the card in the high tier for this title, with a smooth experience profile. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 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.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT supports FSR 3 with Fluid Motion Frames in compatible titles. When The Last of Us Part I supports FSR 3, Fluid Motion Frames can significantly boost the perceived frame rate on top of the base estimate shown above.

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

Final take: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT offers a smooth result in The Last of Us Part I, with the right settings profile.

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.