The Last of Us Part 2 Demonstrates 8GB VRAM Sufficiency at 4K Max Settings Through Clever Streaming

News Overview

PC Gamer highlights that The Last of Us Part 2 on PC can run at 4K resolution with maximum settings on GPUs with only 8GB of VRAM.
The article attributes this to the game’s efficient asset streaming technology, which carefully manages VRAM usage.
It questions why more PC games aren’t employing similar techniques to optimize VRAM usage, especially on mainstream GPUs.

The article focuses on the PC port of The Last of Us Part 2 and its surprisingly modest VRAM requirements, particularly at high resolutions and settings. Despite the game’s visual fidelity and complexity, it reportedly performs well even on graphics cards equipped with 8GB of VRAM at 4K resolution with maximum details enabled.
The key to this efficient performance, according to the article, lies in the game’s sophisticated asset streaming system. This technology intelligently loads and unloads graphical assets (textures, models, etc.) into VRAM only when they are needed, rather than loading everything upfront. This careful management minimizes the amount of VRAM required at any given time.
The article contrasts this approach with other PC games that often demand significantly more VRAM, even at lower resolutions, leading to performance issues on cards with 8GB or less. It questions why more developers aren’t adopting similar advanced streaming techniques to improve performance and broaden compatibility across different hardware configurations.

The success of The Last of Us Part 2 in efficiently managing VRAM, even at demanding settings, serves as a compelling example for PC game developers. It demonstrates that large VRAM capacities are not always a necessity for high-fidelity visuals, provided that asset streaming is implemented effectively.
The article raises a valid point about optimization. If a visually stunning game like The Last of Us Part 2 can run well on 8GB VRAM at 4K, it suggests that some other games might be less optimized in their memory management, potentially leading to unnecessary VRAM demands and hindering performance on mainstream GPUs.
Adopting more sophisticated asset streaming techniques could have significant benefits for PC gamers, allowing them to enjoy high-quality visuals without necessarily needing the latest and most expensive high-VRAM graphics cards. This could also improve the overall performance and stability of games across a wider range of hardware. However, implementing such systems can be complex and time-consuming for developers.