Sony delivers with The Last of Us Complete – better packaged, but a late learner.

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By
Mark Tomson
Managing Director of PlayFront. Mark Tomson shapes the vision of independent PlayStation reporting. His focus: technical analysis, hardware evolution, and the strategic positioning of the gaming industry. He stands for...
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Sony is finally improving the packaging of rare editions of The Last of Us Complete – a long overdue step after previous criticism of PlayStation Direct.

The Last of Us Complete It's available as a physical version – and this time, at least the packaging seems to be up to par. While the Firefly Edition of the remake caused problems in 2022 because some buyers received damaged copies, Sony has shown they've learned from their mistakes with this new release. The new special edition was packaged much more carefully and arrived largely undamaged.

This is remarkable because The Last of Us This now offers a direct before-and-after comparison. It's currently unclear how long Sony has been internally revising its shipping practices, but the difference is obvious. While previously only a padded envelope was sufficient, now a flexible cardboard box with a buffer zone is used.

What went wrong last time

The Firefly Edition sold out within an hour of its announcement in 2022 – and was sold exclusively via PlayStation Direct for €99,99. It was quite appealing in terms of content, including the SteelBook, digital bonuses, and... american dreamsSpecial edition comics were something truly special for collectors. However, they were packaged in a thin paper sleeve which, according to the community, offered no significant protection during transport.

The frustration was correspondingly great. In the social media Several users reported dented boxes, poorly sealed packaging, and visible residue on the surface. Particularly frustrating for buyers, however, was the fact that PlayStation Direct couldn't offer any repairs, as it was a limited edition. Customers only received a 20% discount voucher as compensation – citing a lack of stock. No official statement was issued at the time.

What has changed now

For The Last of Us Complete The situation is different now. The new edition arrives in more robust packaging, with better protection against transport damage. A small but crucial improvement – ​​and above all, one that's truly worthwhile.

It is unclear whether Sony had already quietly implemented the change some time ago or whether they only reacted specifically in response to criticism. In the case of The Last of Us But the difference becomes tangible. The direct comparison leaves little room for chance – and shows that feedback from the community at least occasionally has an effect.

Sony has had problems with the shipping of The Last of Us Complete The product has been improved – thus fixing a weakness that should never have existed in the first place. Collectors may find this a small consolation. For Sony, it's a reminder that "premium" doesn't begin with the price and doesn't end with the SteelBook – but with the final touch in the warehouse.

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5 Comments
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Crydog
15. July 2025 21: 05

Perhaps downsizing the studio or closing it altogether would yield more creative output than the current situation.

TLoU
15. July 2025 14: 55

That shit is better packaged.
The adhesive dots tore my box.
Why did the damn thing even need adhesive dots... Unbelievable.

The Velkan
15. July 2025 14: 23

I hate Sony and Naughty Dog now! Because of Sony's service-game fiasco, there are no new games, so they're slapping everything with hundreds of versions of old games! No wonder I haven't turned on my PS5 in a year; I only play on my Xbox now! I'm curious to see if Ghost of Woke (Jotei) will be any better.

Micha
14. July 2025 20: 00

Wow… No. Naughty Dog is just annoying us with all these new editions. They're way too lazy to make new games, so they'd rather cancel the new multiplayer and create something like this unnecessary.

Sandro Duryn
13. July 2025 12: 13

It's late, but necessary.
I myself was affected by the deformed Firefly Edition.
I didn't even get the 20% back then, just a return slip…

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