Assassin's Creed Shadows: What PC Specs Do You Need to Run the Game?
From 1080p to 4k, here’s how you can expect your PC to perform with Ubisoft’s latest open-world stealth RPG.News
The newest in the long line of Assassin’s Creed games, Shadows, is out now. Taking the series to Japan for the first time ever, players will be swapping between Yaskuke and Naoe as they stealth their way through the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Photo: Ubisoft Be aware, however, the PC specs for the game are fairly steep. While lower settings cover systems from the past half-decade, expect to see 30 FPS performance at 1080p. If you want to experience Shadows in all its ray-traced glory, you’re going to need a beefy rig. So, let’s answer the question:
Can My Computer Run Assassin Creed Shadows?
Minimum Specs (Selective Ray Tracing - 1080p, 30 FPS)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700k or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 5700 (8GB VRAM) or Intel ARC A580 (8GB VRAM, REBAR on)
- Storage: 103 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
Shadows' minimum specs aren’t too taxing, with both the recommended GPU and CPU pushing a decade, Intel GPU aside. However, those minimum specs will only net you 30 FPS at 1080p -- perfectly playable (and almost certainly still gorgeous), but a far cry from a buttery-smooth 60FPS experience. Also worth noting: SSDs are a requirement for this one!
Standard Specs (RT Minimum - 1080p, 30 FPS)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700k or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (8GB VRAM) or Intel ARC B580 (8GB VRAM, REBAR on)
- Storage: 103 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
The bump to RT minimum changes only the GPU requirements, bumping them up to cards more capable of ray tracing. These GPUs are still pushing (or past) five years old, so most recently built systems will more than likely be able to handle this. However, just like the minimum specs, these only hit 30 FPS at 1080p.
Max Specs (Ray Tracing Extreme - 4K, 60 FPS)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-13700k or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24GB VRAM)
- Storage: 103 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
To run Shadows at the peak of its capabilities, a top-of-the-line, last-generation system is required. While the recently-released NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 isn’t required (but we bet it’d help), last generation's flagship card, the 4090, is. If you’re planning on gaming at 4K, be prepared for a steep entry cost.
Those are the big three specs for Assassin Creed Shadows, but the publisher Ubisoft offers a few more granular options as well:
Photo: Ubisoft Best computers to run Assassin’s Creed Shadows
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows may not seem like the most demanding game, there is a lot going on under the hood that demands more advanced systems. If you’re not sure what to look for in a Shadows-capable PC, you’re in the right place. We have plenty of recommendations to get your resolution and frame rate up to snuff.
Even our most basic gaming laptop and desktop recommendations are generations beyond the minimum specs, so think of these as good/better/best suggestions.
Minimum:
Laptops:
- Lenovo Legion 5 15APH9 15.6" Gaming Laptop Computer - Storm Grey
- HP OMEN 16-wd0073dx 16.1" Gaming Laptop Computer (Refurbished) - Shadow Black
Desktops:
Recommended:
Laptops:
- HP OMEN 16-wf1008ca 16.1" Gaming Laptop Computer (Refurbished) - Shadow Black
- MSI Sword 16 HX B13VGKG-649US 16" Gaming Laptop Computer - Cosmo Gray
Desktops:
High-End:
Laptops:
Desktops:
Assassin's Creed Shadows is out now on PC and is included in the Ubisoft+ subscription, as well as other great games like Star Wars Outlaws.
Now, get to work, assassin.
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Sean Mekinda is Micro Center's Associate Editor, with three years of experience on The Micro Center Community and writing credits across the internet, including Polygon, 25YL, and 614 Magazine. He's been writing about and reviewing tech for over five years. Sean has a specialty in gaming, peripherals, and creative projects designed to make your life easier, especially when it comes to tabletop gaming. Contact Sean at SMekinda@microcenter.com
