Fixing "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" in The Last of Us

The Last of Us quickly became one of most acclaimed video game releases in recent memory after launching on PlayStation consoles over the last decade. This emotional, cinematic survival game is now available on PC, allowing a whole new audience to experience the masterfully told story of Joel and Ellie‘s cross-country journey across a post-apocalyptic America. However, some eager PC players have encountered frustrating error messages like "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" when trying to launch the game.

As a tech specialist and avid gamer, I‘ve helped hundreds troubleshoot performance issues in ports from console to PC. Compatibility errors like this one are common but thankfully fixable with the right guidance. In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn various methods for resolving the "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher" error in The Last of Us through tweaks like disabling compatibility mode all the way up to manually forcing Windows updates.

Why "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher" Errors Happen in Games

Before diving into the step-by-step instructions, I wanted to provide some helpful context around why this error message occurs in the first place. Game developers build titles like The Last of Us using specific software development kits and APIs available in each console‘s operating system. Porting that game to PC introduces all sorts of fragmentation challenges, as so many different Windows configurations and software environments exist out in the wild.

According to statistics from Steam‘s Hardware Survey, only 28% of users are actually running the latest Windows 10 Version 1909 at time of writing. That leaves developers having to decide whether to target only more modern Windows builds or support older versions too, risking comparability issues like the 1909 error here. Ultimately, they choose minimum specs that balance software requirements and addressable market size.

So in plain English – when you see the "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" error in The Last of Us on PC, the root cause is your Windows OS being too outdated and missing core components the game relies on. The great news is there are ways to resolve this! Now let‘s walk through them…

Method #1: Disable Compatibility Mode (Advanced)

The first troubleshooting method for addressing the "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" involves tinkering under the hood with compatibility modes. See, Windows lets you right-click on applications and force them to run using settings from older operating systems for better software support. However, forcibly putting a cutting edge game like The Last of Us into this backwards compatibility mode causes problems.

Follow these steps to disable all compatibility shims causing conflicts:

Launch Steam and locate The Last of Us in your Library. Right-click and go Manage > Browse Local Files.
This will open your installed game location. Navigate to /steamapps/common/The Last of Us Remastered.
You should see various executable (.EXE) files for the game and launcher. Start by right-clicking "tlou-i" and selecting Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab and uncheck the box reading "Run this program in compatibility mode for". This disables any forced overrides.
Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the other .EXE files named "tlou-i-l" and "launcher".
Close file explorer and open Windows Search to locate the Steam desktop app. Right-click > Properties > Compatibility and uncheck boxes under "Run this program in compatibility mode for" so no overrides are forced here either.

After disabling compatibility mode overrides on the game .EXEs and Steam itself, try launching The Last of Us again. If you still see the 1909 error, proceed to the second troubleshooting method below…

Method #2: Update Windows Version (Essential)

Since the core trigger for this error message is having an outdated Windows 10 version, you‘ll also want to check for any available operating system updates and install them. Based on the minimum requirements for stable gameplay, your Windows build needs to be version 1909 or later.

Follow these instructions to update Windows 10:

Click the Start button and search for "Check for Updates", then launch the Settings result for Checking for Updates.
The Windows Update page will automatically scan and detect updates applicable to your computer‘s current build version.
If updates are found and available for install, you may see a "Feature update to Windows 10, version XXXX" option. Carefully review details then click Download and install.
Be patient as Windows installs potentially large update files in the background. The Windows 10 Update Assistant may launch too. Follow all prompts as your operating system updates itself to a modern supported build.
Once installation completes, you‘ll be prompted to restart your computer. Save any work then click Restart now to finish updating Windows 10. Allow a few minutes for reboot and updating system settings.
After your computer restarts, launch Steam once more and try running The Last of Us. With Windows 10 now updated to meet minimum requirements of Build 1909+, the game should load successfully without error messages.

Still seeing the issue after updating Windows? Before giving up, try the advanced troubleshooting tips below…

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

If neither disabling compatibility mode nor updating your Windows version eliminates the "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" error, all hope is not lost yet! Here are a few additional advanced steps to try:

Update Graphics Drivers – Outdated drivers for your video card and chipset could still cause conflict with rendering and graphics APIs used by the game engine. Open Device Manager, locate display adapters, right-click for update options.
Adjust In-Game Settings – The Last of Us may default to pushing overly taxing graphics settings that overburden your rig. Manually lower resolutions, textures, draw distance and post-processing options for smoother gameplay.
Verify Integrity of Game Files – Through Steam, validate all game file integrity. Corrupted or improperly downloaded content files can lead to errors on launch even if system meets requirements.

Let‘s explore an example…if your graphics card driver predates significant revisions by Nvidia or AMD, you may be missing hardware-accelerated DirectX 12 capabilities assumed by The Last of Us. Updating drivers is straightforward through GeForce Experience or Radeon Settings tools.

Be sure to restart your PC after each troubleshooting step to clear any memory issues causing conflicts too. Persistence pays off – with a combination of the steps above, I‘m confident you can get The Last of Us running smoothly even in "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" appears again on launch!

Frequently Asked Questions

Still struggling after all troubleshooting? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Q: What if my Windows 10 is already v1909 or newer?

A: Double check no legacy compatibility mode overrides were forced. Some systems automatically enable this for older games which causes errors.

Q: Where do I find the actual game executable files to edit?

A: Browse local files under Manage game options of The Last of Us in your Steam library. Access the /steamapps/common/ folder.

Q: I meet system requirements but updated drivers, OS, etc and still get error!

A: Try clean installing of the game itself after backing up saves. Or enable Steam file validation to scan for any corrupted data.

Q: Can I bypass requirements and force game to run on older Windows?

A: NO! Unsupported versions of Windows 10 lack updated frameworks and libraries essential to launching properly. Update is mandatory.

Closing Thoughts

I hope this guide has given you all the tools needed to troubleshoot and resolve why "Windows 10 Version 1909 or Higher is Required" appears when trying to play The Last of Us on your PC. As both an avid gamer and technology specialist, I understand how frustrating errors like this can be – blocking you from enjoying a critically acclaimed title. With the step-by-step solutions above from updating system software to forcing driver and file refreshes plus settings tweaks, let me know if you have any other questions getting your playthrough back on track!