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Private, browser-local player worksheet

Build a precise The Last of Us Part I troubleshooting note

Record the variables that change the correct support route. Your entries stay in this page until you choose to copy the note; they are not uploaded or saved. Never enter passwords, recovery codes, payment details, or another player's personal data.

Suggested next step

Record the exact symptom and compare the current official support instructions before changing data.

Game: The Last of Us Part I
Guide: The Last of Us Part I PC: When a Shader Rebuild Is Expected (the-last-of-us-part-i-pc-shader-rebuild-check)
Platform/storefront: Not recorded
Symptom category: Other reproducible issue
Displayed build/version: not recorded
Recent change: none recorded
Observed result (redact personal data): not recorded
Safe next check: Record the exact symptom and compare the current official support instructions before changing data.

This is an editorial worksheet, not official support, automated diagnosis, a game-state check, or a promise of recovery. Use the guide's cited sources and current client as authority.

Compare the rebuild with the publisher's listed triggers

Naughty Dog's support article lists four situations that may cause shaders to build again: hardware changes, driver updates, uninstall/reinstall, and Steam file verification. It does not say every repeat rebuild is normal; the publisher recommends a ticket when none of these apply.

Recent eventListed as a rebuild trigger?Next step
GPU/other hardware changedYesAllow build to complete; note the changed component
Graphics driver updatedYesAllow build to complete and record driver version
Reinstalled the gameYesAllow the new install to build shaders
Steam files verifiedYesExpect possible rebuild after verification
None of these happenedNot among the listed casesCapture version/configuration and contact support

References: Naughty Dog: Why The Last of Us Part I shaders build again

Separate compilation time from a performance diagnosis

Naughty Dog advises that running before shaders finish may result in poor performance. It recommends checking the current patch and drivers, and exposes a performance HUD under Options > HUD > Performance. Do not compare frame rate before and after using different scenes or unfinished shader states.

  1. Record the PC build, GPU/driver and the last hardware, driver, reinstall or Steam verification change.
  2. Allow shader compilation to complete; avoid treating gameplay during compilation as a stable benchmark.
  3. If performance remains poor afterward, enable Options > HUD > Performance and record the same scene/settings and displayed CPU/GPU context.
  4. Check the current publisher FAQ and game patch notes before changing graphics options or command-line settings.
  5. If the rebuild began without a listed trigger, submit a focused support request with the event history and version rather than repeatedly reinstalling.
  6. Do not delete cache folders or use third-party cleanup tools unless current official support instructs you to.

References: Naughty Dog: The Last of Us Part I PC FAQ · Naughty Dog: Why The Last of Us Part I shaders build again · The Last of Us Part I Steam Community Discussions

Before you play

  • A listed rebuild trigger was checked.
  • Shaders completed before performance comparison.
  • Same scene and settings are used for observations.
  • Build and driver versions are recorded.
  • No unsupported cache deletion was performed.

Frequently asked questions

Should I interrupt a shader rebuild?

Naughty Dog says running before shaders finish may result in poor performance; allow it to complete before judging the result.

Does a repeat build always mean a bug?

No. The FAQ lists common triggers; outside those cases, it suggests contacting support.

Can this worksheet measure FPS?

No. It cannot read your hardware or performance HUD; it stores only entered notes in the open page.

Sources & revision notes

Editorial revision: November 7, 2026; not a gameplay test date. The reference notes identify source limits and version differences.

  1. Naughty Dog: Why The Last of Us Part I shaders build again (Official)

    Naughty Dog lists hardware changes, driver updates, reinstalling and Steam file verification as situations where shaders may rebuild. If rebuilding happens outside those cases, the article recommends a support ticket; this is dated PC guidance.

  2. Naughty Dog: The Last of Us Part I PC FAQ (Official)

    Naughty Dog's PC FAQ covers the shader cache, performance HUD and PC-specific settings. It is not a console troubleshooting guide; its instructions can change with patches.

  3. The Last of Us Part I Steam Community Discussions (Community)

    External user-generated PC/Steam discussions. Match the current build, hardware, driver and whether shaders completed; old launch reports may describe already-fixed issues.

What changed in this revision

November 7, 2026: first publication, translated Naughty Dog's shader invalidation causes into a bounded PC diagnostic. No performance test was run.

How we research and correct guides

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