Thinking about playing Ghost of Tsushima on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT arrived on PC on May 16, 2024, and this open-world samurai action-adventure is one of the better-optimized big-budget ports around: the official minimum asks for nothing more exotic than a GTX 960, and the official recommended target is a modest RTX 2060. That means most gaming PCs built in the last several years can already run it — the real question is what resolution and refresh rate you want. This guide breaks down the official PC system requirements for Ghost of Tsushima, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target.
- How Demanding Is Ghost of Tsushima?
- Ghost of Tsushima Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for Ghost of Tsushima by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for Ghost of Tsushima
- Recommended PC Builds for Ghost of Tsushima
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Ghost of Tsushima?
- Can You Play Ghost of Tsushima on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in Ghost of Tsushima
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Demanding Is Ghost of Tsushima?
Ghost of Tsushima is a light-to-moderate load by modern standards. It is a large open world with plenty of scenery, but the PC release is well optimized, and the published requirements make that clear: 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 960 or RX 5500 XT on the minimum side, 16 GB and an RTX 2060 or RX 5600 XT for the recommended experience. In practical terms, budget and older cards can handle 1080p, a mainstream modern card comfortably covers 1440p, and 4K is where you want a genuinely fast GPU. It is not a CPU-heavy title — it is a single-player action-adventure, not a simulation or strategy game — so a mid-range processor from the last several years is enough to keep a modern graphics card fed. Always check the game’s official store page for the exact published requirements.
Ghost of Tsushima Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-7100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT |
| Storage | 75 GB available space | 75 GB available space |
Source: the official Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR'S CUT Steam store listing (app 2215430), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Both tiers list Windows 10 and 75 GB of available space. The minimum notes that an SSD is recommended, while the recommended tier lists an SSD as required, so plan on installing the game to solid-state storage.
Best GPU for Ghost of Tsushima by Resolution
1080p
At 1080p, Ghost of Tsushima is comfortable territory. The official recommended GPU is an RTX 2060 or RX 5600 XT, and cards in that class — or older ones such as a GTX 1660 Super — are enough for high settings. If you are buying new, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is a straightforward step up with plenty of headroom for high-refresh 1080p, and current-generation options such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT sit in the same bracket.
1440p
1440p is where a modern mid-range card earns its keep. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER handles Ghost of Tsushima at 1440p on high settings with room to spare, and it sits well above the official recommendation. Current-generation equivalents such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 are equally comfortable here, and even a card closer to the recommended RTX 2060 tier can manage 1440p if you lean on upscaling and trim a few settings.
4K
4K is the one resolution where Ghost of Tsushima asks for real GPU horsepower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a sensible entry point for high settings at 4K, and newer cards such as the RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT offer similar or better performance. Upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD) makes a big difference at this resolution, and the graphics card matters far more than the processor.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is not a CPU-bound game, so the processor side is easy. The official recommended CPU is an Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, which means a mid-range chip from several years ago is genuinely enough. If you are building new or want headroom for other games, 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, 8 GB meets the official minimum but 16 GB is the recommended amount and the sensible target for a modern build; if you want room to spare, something like the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB covers it comfortably. Install the game on an SSD — the minimum spec recommends one and the recommended spec requires one — so a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD cuts load times and keeps the open world streaming smoothly. You will also want 75 GB of free space.
Recommended PC Builds for Ghost of Tsushima
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the official recommended spec for high-settings 1080p.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — more than this game needs at 1440p, which leaves headroom for other titles.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling enabled.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Ghost of Tsushima?
Because the official requirements are modest, Ghost of Tsushima is a poor excuse to rebuild a whole PC — and a good reason not to. If your system already meets the recommended spec (RTX 2060 / RX 5600 XT class, 16 GB of RAM, an SSD), you can play at 1080p on high settings without changing anything. Upgrading makes sense mainly if you want higher resolution, a higher refresh rate, or headroom for other games. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose, and keep your existing CPU unless it is genuinely old — this is not a game that punishes a mid-range processor. Moving the install to an SSD is the one cheap change that matters, since the recommended spec requires one. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Ghost of Tsushima on a Laptop or Handheld?
Yes — and its light requirements make it one of the friendlier large open worlds to play on the move. A gaming laptop with a modern mid-range mobile GPU can run Ghost of Tsushima at 1080p, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. Handhelds such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally can also run it with sensible settings and upscaling, at lower resolution and detail than a desktop — a fair trade for portability. Since the recommended spec requires an SSD and the game needs 75 GB of space, prioritise a device with fast internal storage rather than relying on slower expandable storage for the install itself.
How to Boost FPS in Ghost of Tsushima
If frame rates are lower than you would like, upscaling is the single biggest lever: enable DLSS on an NVIDIA GPU or FSR on AMD and other hardware and let the game render internally at a lower resolution. If your GPU supports frame generation, that can add smoothness on top, though it works best when your base frame rate is already reasonable. After that, lower the most expensive visual settings — shadows, effects and post-processing are usually the first to go — before dropping your output resolution. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD rather than a mechanical drive, since the recommended spec requires one. Because Ghost of Tsushima is not CPU-limited, you will rarely gain much from a faster processor; the graphics card and its settings are what matter. A stable frame rate with slightly reduced settings almost always feels better than maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Ghost of Tsushima?
If your PC has at least a GTX 960 or RX 5500 XT-class GPU, an Intel Core i3-7100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB of RAM and 75 GB of free space, it meets the official minimum and can run Ghost of Tsushima at 1080p with adjusted settings. For the recommended experience — an Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM, an SSD and an RTX 2060 or RX 5600 XT-class card — you get high settings at 1080p with room to move up in resolution.
Is Ghost of Tsushima demanding on PC?
Not especially. It is a 2024 PC release with modest official requirements — a GTX 960 on the minimum side and an RTX 2060 on the recommended side — so most gaming PCs built in the last several years handle it comfortably at 1080p, and modern mid-range cards take it to 1440p and beyond.
What GPU do I need for Ghost of Tsushima at 1440p 60fps?
A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is comfortable for high-settings 1440p in Ghost of Tsushima, and current-generation cards such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 sit in the same tier. You do not have to go that high if you use upscaling — cards around the official recommended RTX 2060 / RX 5600 XT level can also reach 1440p with a few settings trimmed — but the faster class gives you comfortable headroom for future titles too.
How much RAM does Ghost of Tsushima need?
16 GB is the officially recommended amount and the practical target for a modern gaming PC. 8 GB is listed as the minimum, so the game will run with it, but 16 GB is what the recommended spec calls for and it removes memory pressure in a large open world. Faster DDR5 memory helps in CPU-limited scenes, though this is not a game that leans heavily on the processor.
Do I need an SSD for Ghost of Tsushima?
Effectively yes. The official minimum notes that an SSD is recommended, and the official recommended spec requires one. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal, and since the game needs 75 GB of free space, plan for a drive with room to spare.
