Minimum vs. recommended
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 / 11, 64-bit | Windows 10 / 11, 64-bit |
| Intel CPU | Core i7-8700K | Core i5-10600K |
| AMD CPU | Ryzen 5 3600 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
| NVIDIA GPU | GTX 1660 · 6 GB | RTX 3060 Ti · 8 GB |
| AMD GPU | RX 5500 XT · 8 GB | RX 6700 XT · 12 GB |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Published target | 1080p · 30 FPS Upscaling enabled | 1440p · 60 FPS Upscaling enabled |
Source: S-GAME · PC requirements, August 12 ↗
How to read the table
Choose the Intel or AMD CPU entry, and the NVIDIA or AMD GPU entry. You do not need both brands. Compare the whole model name: “i7” alone cannot tell you whether a processor matches the listed hardware.
In Windows, open Task Manager and select Performance to find your CPU, memory and GPU. Confirm the drive you intend to install the game on is an SSD. A computer can have both an SSD and a separate hard drive.
These are the developer’s published profiles. We have not tested the released game. A hardware match is not a promise of identical frame rates in every scene.
A laptop GPU and a desktop GPU with similar names should not automatically be treated as equivalent. Wait for testing on comparable hardware if your purchase depends on a specific performance level.
Choose a target before comparing hardware
Start with the standard minimum or recommended profile above. Compare CPU, GPU, memory and installation drive together. Meeting the GPU entry alone does not establish that the whole computer meets the profile.
| Lighting target | Listed GPU | Published output |
|---|---|---|
| Ray tracing | RTX 5060 · 8 GB | 1080p / 60 FPS |
| Path tracing | RTX 5080 · 16 GB | 2160p / 60 FPS |
These advanced entries do not restate CPU, RAM or equivalent AMD hardware. Do not fill those gaps with a guessed configuration.
How much storage does Phantom Blade Zero need on PC?
The announced install size is about 145 GB on PC, and the game must be installed on an SSD. That is the final footprint, not the amount you need free on preload day.
Because preloaded files stay encrypted until unlock, the temporary files and the complete game data sit on the drive at the same time. Keep roughly 300 GB free before you start downloading; the extra room returns once installation completes. Regional guidance also suggests installing outside the Windows system drive so that background writes do not compete for bandwidth.
Update your graphics driver first. The announcement points NVIDIA owners to a game-ready release and AMD owners to the latest Adrenalin driver.
If installation fails on space, clear room and restart the download — that is the documented remedy. PS5 owners should expect a slightly smaller download.
Source: MP1st · Preload size and final PC requirements, October 26 ↗
Do I need a ray tracing GPU for Phantom Blade Zero?
The standard minimum and recommended profiles assume ray tracing and path tracing are off. Lighting tiers sit above them: the published guidance pairs ray tracing with an RTX 5060-class 8 GB card at 1080p, and path tracing with an RTX 5080-class 16 GB card at 2160p. Those are separate targets, not an upgrade path for the table above.
At launch, PC supports ray-traced reflections, shadows and caustics, together with DLSS 4.5 super resolution and multi-frame generation. We have not benchmarked any of it; treat these as the publisher's stated options and wait for reproducible testing before planning a settings recipe.
Source: S-GAME · PC requirements, August 12 ↗
Source: MP1st · Preload size and final PC requirements, October 26 ↗
Keep the upscaling condition in view
The stated targets include upscaling. Do not read the recommended profile as a native-resolution performance guarantee, or assume that it includes ray tracing. For advanced lighting, use the separate profiles in the official requirements announcement.
The announcement text does not give a final storage capacity or the full settings used for each standard target. Keep those questions open until there is a clear official answer or reproducible testing.
What the first tests report
Independent technical tests published around October 27 describe the PC version as unusually well optimised for an Unreal Engine 5 title, while confirming the published targets still assume upscaling. The build tested was listed as Unreal Engine 5.7.4, with Denuvo anti-tamper included and support for DLSS, FSR and XeSS upscaling.
- Path tracing is the heavy option. Native 4K with path tracing was reported at roughly 25–27 fps on the strongest card tested; native 1440p landed in the mid-40s and native 1080p above 60.
- Upscaling and frame generation carry the high end. 4K with DLSS quality was reported around 54–60 fps, with frame generation roughly doubling that.
- Switching ray tracing off changes the picture. Native 1080p on high settings was reported above 60 fps across the high-end cards tested.
Update your GPU driver before you start, choose resolution and a frame-rate cap first, then tune upscaling quality. Testers also suggest disabling motion blur when frame generation is on. Ray tracing and path tracing reportedly cannot be toggled mid-session — that change is made from the main menu.
These results come from other people’s hardware and scenes, so your own numbers will differ. One repeated complaint is that lighting modes cannot be switched during play.
Source: Output Lag · Review roundup, scores checked October 26 ↗
The questions the spec sheet cannot settle
Will my RTX 4050 laptop run it at 60 FPS?
The official sheet does not test your laptop. Record its exact CPU, GPU power configuration, memory and desired resolution, then look for a repeatable benchmark on comparable hardware. A similar product name is not enough to promise 60 FPS.
How much free storage do I need?
The checked official requirements specify an SSD, but do not give an installation size in GB. Do not reserve space based on an invented download size.
Does recommended mean native 1440p at 60 FPS?
No. That target explicitly enables upscaling. Its full preset and upscaling quality are not specified in the checked requirements.
Is Steam Deck performance confirmed here?
No. These desktop requirements are not a Steam Deck benchmark or a compatibility rating. This page has no tested handheld settings.
Do the targets require frame generation or a specific upscaling mode?
The official requirements checked September 12 say upscaling is enabled. They do not identify a frame-generation requirement, an upscaling quality mode or the complete graphics preset for those targets. Do not label the figures native-resolution results, or assume they count generated frames without separate evidence.
When comparing a future benchmark, look for resolution, preset, upscaling mode, frame-generation setting and the tested scene. A number without these conditions cannot settle how the game will run on your PC.
Source: Steam · Official PC listing ↗
Steam DRM and launch-day performance questions
Steam’s current store listing identifies third-party DRM: Denuvo. The listing does not specify whether continuous internet access is required, how offline activation works, or what effect the DRM has on performance. We have not tested the released build, so we cannot confirm any of those effects.
As of October 21, 2026, recent Steam Community topics include questions such as “Can my laptop run this game?” and “Stutter concerns.” These appeared before release and are questions or opinions, not measured gameplay reports or a representative survey. Use the official requirements above as a baseline; wait for repeatable retail-build benchmarks for actual performance evidence.
Sources checked October 21, 2026.
Source: Steam · Official PC listing ↗
What to check after launch
For a useful settings comparison, record your hardware, game version, driver, resolution, preset and upscaling mode. Check the same location more than once and describe visible stutter as well as average performance.
We still publish no settings that we have not tested. Once the game is playable, third-party reviews are the fastest evidence available: early reports describe smooth PC performance on hardware comfortably above the recommended profile, base PS5 holding 60 fps in Performance mode with drops in busy scenes, and Steam Deck running below the published targets. Those are reviewers' results on review hardware, not ours, and launch patches can change them.
Source: Output Lag · Review roundup, scores checked October 26 ↗
Go to the source
Checked October 21, 2026. Information can change after this date.