BG3 System Requirements: Minimum and Recommended PC Specs

To run Baldur's Gate 3 on PC at the minimum spec, you need Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel i5-4690 or AMD FX-8350, 8 GB of RAM, a graphics card on the level of an Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD RX 480 with at least 4 GB of video memory, and 150 GB of space on an SSD. The recommended spec steps up to an Intel i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2060 Super or RX 5700 XT with 8 GB of video memory.

The figures below are the requirements Larian lists on the game's Steam store page today, including Intel Arc graphics cards and Snapdragon chips. Lists copied elsewhere before those entries existed may not include them.

Last checked: November 9, 2026.

BG3 PC system requirements (Windows)

Both specs require a 64-bit processor and operating system.

What the minimum and recommended specs mean

Larian does not attach a resolution or frame rate target to its Windows specs. Treat the minimum spec as the floor for playing at low settings and the recommended spec as the target for higher settings. The Mac list is more specific: the minimum Mac spec runs the game at low to medium settings, and the recommended Mac spec runs it at high or ultra.

BG3 Mac system requirements

Larian adds a warning to the minimum Mac spec: split-screen will not run at an acceptable level of performance on it. If you plan to play couch co-op on a Mac, aim for the recommended spec. The co-op guide covers how split-screen and cross-play work.

Do you need an SSD for Baldur's Gate 3?

Yes. Both the minimum and recommended specs list an SSD as required, on Windows and on Mac, so installing on a hard drive is not supported. With 150 GB needed, check your free space before you buy, and leave some extra room for patches, save files and mods.

Will BG3 run on a Steam Deck?

Yes. Valve rates Baldur's Gate 3 as Steam Deck Verified, which means its default controls, button prompts, text size and default settings all passed Valve's checks.

Hotfix #34, released in September 2025, added a native Steam Deck version, so the game no longer has to run through Valve's Proton compatibility layer. Larian says the native build uses less CPU power and memory, loads faster and holds a steadier frame rate. If you have Steam Cloud saves turned on, your recent saves move over to the native version automatically.

Which platforms is BG3 on?

Baldur's Gate 3 launched on Windows on August 3, 2023. It followed on PlayStation 5 in September 2023, on Mac later that month and on Xbox Series X and Series S in December 2023. Xbox Series S originally shipped without split-screen co-op, and Patch 8 added it in April 2025.

Consoles have no hardware requirements to worry about, but one storage note applies on every platform: the full game is large, so free up space before you install it.

Tips if BG3 runs badly on your PC

• Expect Act 3 to be the heaviest. Larian has named the Lower City in Act 3 as one of the busiest areas, where frame rate spikes were most noticeable, and later updates improved how models stream in there. If Acts 1 and 2 run fine but Act 3 does not, that is normal; lower your settings for that act.
• Use upscaling. The game supports Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS, which render at a lower resolution and scale up. They are the easiest way to gain frame rate on older graphics cards.
• Try the other renderer. BG3 offers both DirectX 11 and Vulkan. If one gives you stutters or crashes, the other may behave better on your hardware.
• Keep the game on your fastest drive. If you have more than one SSD, install it on the fastest one.
• Update your graphics drivers. Several of Larian's hotfixes were aimed at crashes on specific hardware, so stay on current drivers and the latest game version.
• Close background apps. With 8 GB of RAM you are at the minimum, so browsers and launchers running in the background can push the game into stutters.

How much RAM does BG3 need?

The minimum is 8 GB and the recommended amount is 16 GB, on both Windows and Mac. Video memory matters separately: Larian lists at least 4 GB of VRAM for the minimum spec and 8 GB for the recommended spec. If your graphics card has only 4 GB, texture quality is a sensible first setting to lower.

Once your hardware is sorted, the beginner class guide and the difficulty guide help you set up your first run.

Frequently asked questions

What are the minimum requirements for Baldur's Gate 3?

On Windows you need Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel i5-4690 or AMD FX-8350, 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 970 or RX 480 class graphics card with 4 GB of video memory, and 150 GB of SSD space. On Mac the minimum is an Apple M1 with 8 GB of RAM and macOS 14.7.1 or newer.

How many GB is Baldur's Gate 3?

Larian asks for 150 GB of free storage, and it has to be on an SSD. That figure is the same on Windows and Mac.

Can Baldur's Gate 3 run on 8 GB of RAM?

Yes. 8 GB is the official minimum on both Windows and Mac. Larian recommends 16 GB, and with 8 GB you should close other programs while playing.

Is Baldur's Gate 3 Steam Deck Verified?

Yes. Valve rates it Steam Deck Verified, and Hotfix #34 in September 2025 added a native Steam Deck build that Larian says runs more smoothly and loads faster than the Proton version.

Can BG3 run on an M1 Mac?

Yes. The Apple M1 is the minimum Mac spec and runs the game at low to medium settings. Larian recommends an M1 Pro or better for high or ultra settings, and warns that split-screen will not perform well on a base M1.

Does Baldur's Gate 3 run on Windows on ARM laptops?

Larian now lists the Snapdragon X Elite processor and Qualcomm Adreno X1 graphics in the minimum Windows spec, so laptops with that chip meet the official minimum.