The official Gears E-Day system requirements are now public. The Steam listing confirms both minimum and recommended PC specifications, including a 130 GB SSD requirement, DirectX 12, and one unusually important baseline: the minimum graphics requirement says a hardware ray-tracing capable GPU is required. That makes Gears of War: E-Day different from PC games where ray tracing is simply an optional high-end graphics toggle.
At minimum, the game lists 12 GB of RAM and GPUs such as the GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 6600. The recommended tier moves to 16 GB of RAM, a Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-11600K-class CPU, and GPUs such as the RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT. Both tiers require an SSD and 130 GB of available storage.
Gears E-Day minimum and recommended PC requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit 22H, build 19045.7291 | Windows 11 64-bit 25H2 or newer |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 2600X / Intel Core i7-6850K / Intel Core i5-10400 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600 / Intel Core i5-11600K |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | RTX 5050 / RTX 2060 / RX 6600 / RX 9060 | RTX 5060 / RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT / RX 9060 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 130 GB available | 130 GB available |
| Drive | SSD required | SSD required |
| Network | Broadband internet connection | Broadband internet connection |
| Audio | Windows-compatible audio device | Windows-compatible audio device |
These are the current official Steam requirements verified on September 6, 2026. PC requirements can still be revised before launch, so anyone buying hardware specifically for E-Day should check the live Steam page again close to October 6.
The biggest requirement: hardware ray tracing is mandatory
The most important line in the minimum specification is not the RAM or the processor. Steam explicitly states that a hardware ray-tracing capable GPU is required.
That means older graphics cards without hardware RT support should not be treated as viable simply because they have enough VRAM or similar raster performance. The listed NVIDIA floor includes the RTX 2060, while AMD's listed floor includes the RX 6600. The exact performance delivered by every supported GPU at launch will depend on resolution, settings, upscaling, drivers, and final optimization, but the hardware feature requirement itself is clear.
This also explains why the PC graphics story is so closely tied to DirectX 12. The Coalition has confirmed hardware ray tracing as part of its PC rendering stack, alongside Unreal Engine 5 and modern reconstruction technologies.
For the rendering-focused breakdown rather than the hardware checklist, see the Gears E-Day PC graphics guide.
How demanding is the minimum CPU requirement?
The minimum CPU list is wider than a simple one-generation target. Steam names the Ryzen 5 2600X, Core i7-6850K, and Core i5-10400. That suggests The Coalition is supporting several different CPU architectures and core layouts rather than requiring a recent processor family across the board.
However, a minimum CPU listing should not be read as a promise of a particular frame rate or graphics preset unless the publisher attaches a target to it. The current Steam specification does not label the minimum tier as “1080p 30 FPS,” “Low,” or another fixed performance profile. We therefore do not assign one.
The recommended CPU tier is cleaner: Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-11600K. Those processors make a more sensible reference point if you are trying to build around the recommended specification rather than merely meet the launch floor.
Is 12 GB of RAM really enough?
Officially, 12 GB RAM is the minimum and 16 GB RAM is recommended.
For a new PC build, 16 GB is the safer reference point because it matches the recommended spec and leaves more headroom for Windows, launchers, voice chat, browsers, and other background applications. The 12 GB figure is useful mainly because it tells us the game itself is not requiring 16 GB as the absolute entry point.
The listing does not currently publish a 32 GB “Ultra” requirement. Claims that E-Day requires 32 GB should therefore be treated as unofficial unless a later performance guide adds a higher tier.
Gears E-Day needs 130 GB of SSD space
Both minimum and recommended specifications list 130 GB of available storage and explicitly require a solid-state drive.
The 130 GB figure should be treated as the current installation-space requirement, not necessarily the maximum amount of disk space the game will ever use. Steam also warns that future updates may need additional storage. Players planning to preload, install seasonal updates, capture gameplay footage, or keep multiple large games on the same drive should leave extra free space rather than budgeting exactly 130 GB.
The SSD requirement is also worth separating from “SSD recommended.” The official listing says SSD required, so a mechanical hard drive should not be treated as a supported minimum configuration.
Windows 10 minimum, Windows 11 recommended
The minimum OS is Windows 10 64-bit 22H, while the recommended tier lists Windows 11 64-bit 25H2 or newer.
That means Windows 10 remains within the published minimum spec for launch. It does not mean every older Windows 10 build qualifies: the listing includes a specific build requirement. Keeping Windows and GPU drivers current is particularly important for a DirectX 12 title using hardware ray tracing and modern shader-delivery systems.
DLSS 4.5, FSR, XeSS and other PC performance tools
System requirements tell you whether your machine meets the official hardware baseline; they do not describe every graphics feature available once the game is running.
The Coalition and Xbox have separately confirmed a broad PC feature set. E-Day supports NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, including Super Resolution and Dynamic Multi Frame Generation on supported hardware, along with NVIDIA Reflex. Xbox has also confirmed AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, Unreal Engine TSR, and Advanced Shader Delivery support on compatible systems.
The live Steam page now specifically advertises AMD FSR “Redstone”, optional Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation on supported hardware, Variable Rate Shading, a built-in benchmark, 4K, HDR10, and hardware ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows.
These technologies are not interchangeable with the minimum specification. For example, having access to frame generation does not mean a GPU below the required hardware RT baseline becomes officially supported. Upscaling and frame generation should be viewed as performance tools inside the supported hardware range.
What about Steam Deck and handheld PCs?
Steam's current store page says Gears of War: E-Day is fully optimized for handheld play on Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X, and Xbox Ally devices.
That is useful evidence that handheld optimization is an active part of the PC release, but it should not be converted into unsupported assumptions about exact resolution, frame rate, graphics preset, battery life, or whether every third-party handheld will deliver the same experience. Those measurements need platform-specific testing or official performance targets.
For the broader device and storefront picture, see the Gears E-Day platforms guide.
Can an RTX 2060 run Gears E-Day?
The RTX 2060 is officially listed as a minimum GPU, so it meets the published NVIDIA floor. That does not automatically tell us the ideal resolution, preset, or expected FPS. Those details require benchmark data.
If you already have an RTX 2060-class machine, check the rest of the minimum specification as well: compatible CPU, at least 12 GB RAM, Windows 10 64-bit at the required build, DirectX 12, broadband internet, and 130 GB of free SSD space.
Is the RTX 3060 Ti enough for the recommended spec?
Yes. Steam specifically lists the RTX 3060 Ti in the recommended GPU tier alongside the RTX 5060, RX 6700 XT, and RX 9060 XT.
Again, “recommended” is the publisher's hardware category, not a promise from this site that every recommended card will deliver the same frame rate at every resolution. The final outcome depends on settings and reconstruction features.
Does Gears E-Day require internet on PC?
Steam lists a broadband internet connection in both minimum and recommended requirements, and a Microsoft Account is required. Online campaign co-op, Horde Siege, Versus, and other online features naturally depend on network access.
The store listing is the correct source for launch requirements; we do not infer a fully offline-supported campaign mode beyond what the publisher explicitly documents.
Gears E-Day PC requirements FAQ
How much storage does Gears E-Day need?
The official PC listing currently requires 130 GB of available storage, and an SSD is required.
How much RAM does Gears E-Day need?
The minimum is 12 GB RAM. The recommended specification is 16 GB RAM.
Does Gears E-Day require ray tracing hardware?
Yes. The official minimum GPU note explicitly says that a hardware ray-tracing capable GPU is required.
What is the minimum NVIDIA GPU?
The published list includes the GeForce RTX 2060 and RTX 5050.
What is the minimum AMD GPU?
The current list includes the Radeon RX 6600 and RX 9060.
What GPU is recommended?
Steam lists the RTX 5060, RTX 3060 Ti, RX 6700 XT, and RX 9060 XT in its recommended tier.
Does Gears E-Day support DLSS?
Yes. The Coalition has confirmed DLSS 4.5, Super Resolution, Dynamic Multi Frame Generation on supported hardware, and NVIDIA Reflex.
Does it support AMD FSR?
Yes. Xbox previously confirmed AMD FSR, and the current Steam listing specifically advertises AMD FSR “Redstone.”
Bottom line
The official Gears E-Day PC system requirements are substantial but now clear. You need a 64-bit Windows PC, DirectX 12, at least 12 GB RAM, 130 GB of SSD space, and—most importantly—a hardware ray-tracing capable GPU. The RTX 2060 and RX 6600 sit inside the published minimum tier, while an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT-class card appears in the recommended tier.
The game also arrives with a broad set of modern PC technologies including DLSS 4.5, FSR, XeSS, TSR, hardware ray tracing, frame-generation options, and a built-in benchmark. Recheck the official Steam listing before launch if you are buying new hardware, because system requirements can still change as final optimization continues.
