Assassin’s Creed Shadows: PC System Requirements & Best Hardware to Run It (2026)

Thinking about playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an open-world action-adventure RPG set in feudal Japan, where you play as a lethal shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai, and it arrived on Steam on March 19, 2025. It is a modern AAA release, but its published requirements are not extreme: the official minimum is a GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB, Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB or Arc A380 6 GB paired with 16 GB of RAM, while the recommended tier steps up to a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, Radeon RX 6700 XT or Arc B580. This guide breaks down those official specs, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations for the settings and resolution you are targeting.

How Demanding Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a large modern open-world game, but it is not one of the heaviest PC releases around. The official minimum asks for a GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB, Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB or Arc A380 6 GB — cards from the pre-ray-tracing era — which means plenty of older gaming PCs can still run it at 1080p with lowered settings and upscaling enabled. The official recommended spec moves up to a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, Radeon RX 6700 XT or Arc B580, a sensible modern mid-range target for high settings. Two things are non-negotiable: 16 GB of RAM, and the game must be installed on an SSD with 115 GB of free space. Ray-traced global illumination is available as an optional visual feature on RT-capable GPUs rather than a requirement, so you do not need an RTX card to play — only if you want to switch ray tracing on. This is an action-adventure RPG rather than a simulation or strategy game, so the GPU does most of the heavy lifting; a modern six-core processor at or above the official minimum is enough to keep it fed.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Official PC System Requirements

Source: the official Assassin’s Creed Shadows Steam store listing (app 3159330), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.

Best GPU for Assassin’s Creed Shadows by Resolution

1080p

The official recommended tier — GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, Radeon RX 6700 XT or Arc B580 — is a solid 1080p target for high settings, and anything at or above it leaves room for upscaling and higher frame rates. For a smooth 1080p experience, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (or a comparable card) is a good modern pick in the same class as the recommended RTX 3060 Ti, and it handles high settings with upscaling such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS turned on. Current-generation options in this tier include the GeForce RTX 5060 and Radeon RX 9060 XT. At the bottom end, the official minimum cards — GTX 1650 4 GB, RX 5500 XT 8 GB and Arc A380 6 GB — will run the game with reduced settings and upscaling.

1440p

Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER for 1440p at high or ultra settings. It sits a clear step above the official recommended spec, which is what you want once you move past 1080p, and it is the resolution most PC gamers target. Current-generation cards in the same class include the GeForce RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9070. Upscaling is still worth leaving on at 1440p if you are chasing higher frame rates.

4K

For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a realistic entry point, ideally paired with upscaling to keep frame rates high. 4K is well beyond the official recommended spec, so treat it as a premium target rather than a baseline: you want a top-tier card such as this one, a current-generation GeForce RTX 5080 or Radeon RX 9070 XT, and DLSS/FSR enabled. A capable CPU and 16 GB or more of RAM matter here too, but the graphics card is what decides whether 4K feels comfortable.

CPU, RAM and Storage for Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a GPU-bound open-world action RPG rather than a CPU-heavy simulation, so you do not need an exotic processor — but you should meet the published CPU spec. The official minimum is an Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, and the recommended tier is an Intel Core i5-11600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. Any modern six-core chip clears that bar comfortably: the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value for gaming, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. For memory, 16 GB is what both the minimum and recommended specs call for, and it is the practical target — a 32 GB DDR5 kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB simply gives you headroom for background apps and future titles. Install the game on a fast NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD: the official notes require an SSD, and the game needs 115 GB of free space. Faster storage also cuts load times and helps with texture streaming in the open world.

Recommended PC Builds for Assassin’s Creed Shadows

1080p budget build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the official minimum and a good match for the recommended tier at high settings.

1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — the setup most players should aim for, with headroom above the published recommended spec.

4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Because the official minimum is a GTX 1650 / RX 5500 XT / Arc A380-class card, a lot of older PCs already clear the bar — an upgrade is only urgent if you are below that, or if you want to push resolution and settings higher. If you are upgrading, be strategic: the graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first. As long as your processor meets the published spec — a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i7-8700K, or anything newer — it will not hold back a modern GPU in this game. Moving the game to an SSD is effectively mandatory, since the official notes require it, and going from 16 GB to 32 GB of RAM is a cheap way to smooth out heavy multitasking. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.

Can You Play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on a Laptop or Handheld?

Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060-class mobile GPU or better can run Assassin’s Creed Shadows at 1080p with sensible settings and upscaling, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally you are at or below the official minimum GPU tier, so treat the game as a stretch: expect low settings and aggressive upscaling, and prioritise a stable experience over visual fidelity. If portability matters, pick a device with the strongest GPU you can get and pair it with fast internal storage, because the game requires an SSD and 115 GB of space.

How to Boost FPS in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

If frame rates are low, enable upscaling — DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel — which offers the single biggest performance gain, and turn on frame generation if your GPU supports it. On Intel Arc cards, make sure Resizable BAR is enabled, since the official specs list it as a requirement (REBAR ON). If you have ray-traced global illumination switched on, turning it off is usually the most expensive single change you can make; beyond that, lower the most costly visual settings and reduce resolution before anything else. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD, as the official notes require. A stable frame rate at lower settings almost always feels better than maxed-out visuals with stutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my PC run Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Check your system against the official specs. The minimum is a GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB, Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB or Arc A380 6 GB (with Resizable BAR enabled on Arc), an Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM, and 115 GB of free space on an SSD. The recommended spec is a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, Radeon RX 6700 XT or Arc B580 with an Intel Core i5-11600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. If you meet the minimum, you can play with adjusted settings and upscaling; if you meet the recommended, you have a comfortable modern baseline.

Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows demanding on PC?

It is a large modern AAA open-world game, but its requirements are moderate rather than extreme. The minimum is a GTX 1650-class card that predates ray tracing, so older gaming PCs can still run it with lowered settings and upscaling, while the recommended tier — RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT / Arc B580 — is a mainstream modern GPU. Ray-traced global illumination is optional and only available on RT-capable hardware.

What GPU do I need for Assassin’s Creed Shadows at 1440p 60fps?

A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is a comfortable pick for high-settings 1440p in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, especially with upscaling enabled — it sits a clear step above the official recommended RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT / Arc B580 tier. Cards in this class also give you headroom for future titles.

How much RAM does Assassin’s Creed Shadows need?

16 GB of RAM is what the official minimum and recommended specs both list, and 16 GB is the practical target for modern gaming — 8 GB is not enough for a smooth experience. Faster DDR5 memory can help in busy scenes, and 32 GB gives you extra headroom if you multitask heavily.

Do I need an SSD for Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Yes. The official notes state that the game must be installed on an SSD, and it needs 115 GB of available space. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal, and faster storage helps with load times and asset streaming across the open world.