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PC compatibility

How to Check Whether Your PC Can Run an Upcoming Steam Game

Use the game’s Steam System Requirements listing to compare your PC’s OS and hardware. A match is an estimate, not a guarantee of smooth performance.

By VGSources Team 3 min read
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Check the game’s Steam Store page and compare its System Requirements with your PC’s operating system, processor, graphics card, RAM, and available storage. This gives you a useful compatibility estimate—not a guarantee of smooth performance, especially if your PC only meets the minimum requirements.

Start with the game’s Steam Store page

Open the listing for the specific game and scroll to System Requirements. Steam says this section identifies a game’s requirements and compatible operating systems: Steam Support: Game is not available on your current platform.

Because the game is upcoming, check the listing again closer to release. Requirements may be added or revised, and without a specific game there is no reliable way to state its final minimum specs, recommended specs, or performance target.

Check your operating system first

Compare the operating system listed on Steam with the one installed on your PC. OS support is separate from hardware compatibility: a computer can have a powerful graphics card and still lack native support for the game’s listed operating system.

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Steam notes that some Windows-only games may work on Linux through Steam Play, but that general possibility does not confirm compatibility for a particular game. Treat the game’s stated OS support as the reference point rather than assuming another operating system will work.

Find your PC’s hardware details

Processor and memory

On Windows, open Settings > System > About to find the processor and installed RAM. Record the exact processor model, not just a broad label such as “Intel Core” or “Ryzen.”

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Graphics card and DirectX details

Run the Microsoft DirectX Diagnostic Tool by searching Windows for DxDiag. Its System tab shows the DirectX version; its display information includes details about the display device. Note the exact GPU model, and determine whether the PC uses integrated graphics, a discrete graphics card, or both.

A DirectX version by itself does not prove that a GPU meets a game’s graphics requirements. Steam cautions that a GPU may lack a required pixel shader level even when it meets the minimum DirectX requirement. Compare any named API, shader level, or other graphics feature as well as the GPU model: Steam Support: Games do not run after ‘Preparing to Launch’.

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Storage

Check the game’s listed storage requirement against the available space on the drive where you plan to install it. A drive’s total capacity is not the same as its free space.

Compare the requirements line by line

  1. Match the operating system. Check the supported OS and any stated version requirements.
  2. Compare CPU models. Look for your exact processor or a stated equivalent. Similar brand names do not establish that two processors perform alike.
  3. Compare GPU models and features. Check the named card or equivalent and any separate API or shader requirements. Account for whether the game expects discrete graphics.
  4. Check RAM. Compare installed memory with the game’s stated amount.
  5. Check available storage. Confirm enough free space on the intended installation drive.
  6. Read minimum and recommended specs separately. They describe different thresholds; meeting the minimum is not the same as matching the recommended requirements.

If the listing says “or equivalent,” that phrase does not make every newer or similarly named part an automatic match. Use the exact model information and listed features to make the closest comparison you can.

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Understand what passing the check means

Meeting minimum requirements is a baseline, not a promise of smooth play or a particular frame rate. Steam warns that a machine at or near a game’s requirements may experience performance or launch issues. The full system and the game’s own implementation matter, so do not infer an FPS target unless the publisher specifies one for the relevant setup.

If one component is below the minimum, or the OS or a required graphics feature is unsupported, treat that as a warning even if the other parts exceed their listed requirements. A strong GPU does not compensate for every missing requirement.

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Manual comparison or an automated checker?

Approach What it tells you Limits to keep in mind
Compare against the Steam listing Uses the publisher-provided requirements for that specific game and lets you check each component and OS directly. You need to identify your hardware accurately and interpret any stated equivalents or graphics features.
Can You RUN It System Requirements Lab offers an automated PC-to-game comparison: Can You RUN It. Its detection application requires Windows. For an unreleased game, confirm that the checker includes current requirements for that game; an automated result does not replace the current Steam listing.

Recheck before release

For an upcoming title, use the Steam Store page as the game-specific reference and revisit its System Requirements section nearer launch. If the requirements remain incomplete, you can compare only the information currently published; the game’s eventual support and performance cannot be established from missing specs.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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