Returnal comes to PC in February, drops 32GB ‘recommended’ RAM requirement
The full Returnal system requirements aren’t quite as steep as initially revealed.
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Sony confirmed in December 2022 that the previously-PS5 exclusiveReturnalwould be released for PC in early 2023, and it wasn’t kidding: Today it announced that the sci-fi roguelike will finally come our way on February 15.
The Returnal launch date comes alongside more information about a range ofPC-specific featuresthat have been added to the game, including support for Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR, and Nvidia Image Scaling. Returnal on PC will also support ray traced reflections (the original PS5 version that released in 2021 only supports ray traced shadows), and 21:9 (ultrawide) and 32:9 (super ultrawide) display resolutions. Controllers are recommended but keyboard and mouse are fully supported, “with a wide range of customisation options to tailor the controls to whatever suits you.”
The most interesting part of the announcement—aside from the launch date—has to be the updated system requirements. We got our first look at the PC requirements in December 2022 courtesy of Steam, and they were an eye-popper: The recommended spec called for, among other things,32GB RAM. That’s out of reach of an awful lot of PC gamers: The semi-scientificSteam hardware and software surveyindicates that three-quarters of systems surveyed are running with either 8GB or 16GB installed.
Today’s announcement serves up a more detailed breakdown of hardware requirements, and dials back the recommended RAM to just 16GB. The recommended specification onSteamalso now calls for 16GB instead of 32GB. As is the way of things these days, however, the “recommended” spec is just middle of the pack, so make of it what you will.
Here’s the full and final breakdown of what you’ll need to play:
Minimum (720p, 60fpx, low graphics settings)
Medium (1080p, 60fps, medium graphics settings)
Recommended (1080p, 60fps, high graphics settings)
Epic (4K, 60fps, epic graphics settings)
Ray Tracing (4K, 60 fps, epic graphics settings)
And now, enjoy some screens.
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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill.Lotsof Henry Cavill.
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