A new performance patch has been applied to "The Last of Us Part 2" to take advantage of the power of the PS5.

Announced on the PlayStation Blog, patch 1.08 will allow PS5 players to choose between 30 or 60 fps as the game's target frame rate. The game already delivers a relatively stable 30 fps, but being able to double that for an even smoother experience is a feature fans have been asking for for months. [The Last of Us Part 2, released on PS4 in June 2020, has technically been playable on PS5 through backwards compatibility since the console's launch. However, with this free upgrade, the game will take advantage of next-generation hardware in a variety of ways.

Arne Meyer, director of communications for developer Naughty Dog, said of the new patch, "To complement the other enhancements that are part of PS5 backward compatibility with PS4 games, such as increased resolution, reduced load times, and other enhancements, you will be able to select your preferred frame rates," he explains.

While this patch upgrades the game for a better overall experience, it is not a native PS5 version. Even with this patch, the game will still be played through the PS5's backwards compatibility mode, so do not expect it to rival the full versions released on the PS5, such as Returnal or Demon's Souls, in terms of resolution and loading speed.

Sony has released PS5 patches for many of its most popular exclusive titles in recent months. Selected titles include "God of War" and "Ghost of Tsushima"; expect these free upgrades to continue so that PS4 exclusives like "Bloodborne" and "Uncharted 4" will play even better on PS5.

Patch 1.08 is a free download and works just like any other update. If you currently have "The Last of Us Part 2" saved on your PS5 console and have the update set to automatic, it should have already been downloaded.

Click on the game tile options and scroll down to "Update History" to see the latest patch installed. If no patches have been installed, press the Options button again while hovering over the Last of Us Part 2 game tile and select "Check for Updates."

The patch should now begin downloading; it's a 299 MB download, so it shouldn't take too long to install. Remember, to take advantage of this PS5 performance improvement, you must install the game on the console's internal SSD, not an external hard drive.

Also, PS4 players can download patch 1.08, but it does not support 60fps, a feature only available on the PS5 version. If you are interested in upgrading your console, you may want to check out our PS5 restocking guide.