There is no verified universal “best” PC preset for ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut: the available sources do not include controlled desktop benchmarks for the current edition. Start at your display’s intended resolution with the game’s default scaling, then lower scaling only if performance is unsatisfactory. Compare image clarity and smoothness in the same scene after each change; the right choice depends on your GPU, resolution, and frame-rate goal.
What the current PC requirements tell you—and what they don’t
The official Steam listing names an Nvidia GTX 1060 6 GB GDDR5 as the minimum graphics card and a GTX 2070 8 GB GDDR6 as recommended. Both specifications list 16 GB of RAM and DirectX 11. These are publisher-listed requirements, not measured performance tiers: they do not promise a particular frame rate, resolution, or graphics setting.
There is no published controlled desktop settings benchmark for the Director’s Cut in the available sources, so an exact GPU-by-setting chart or a promise such as “60 FPS at 1440p” would be unsupported. Treat the listed GPU specifications as a reference, not a guarantee.
Start with your display’s resolution and aspect ratio
Set the game to your monitor’s intended resolution and aspect ratio first. ZA/UM’s Director’s Cut announcement confirms support for 21:9 and 32:9 ultrawide displays. If you use one of those formats, choose the matching display mode rather than assuming a standard 16:9 image is the correct starting point.
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Tune scaling by comparing the same scene
- Begin at the intended resolution. Keep the game at your display’s resolution and use the default in-game scaling setting.
- Check a representative scene. Look at both image clarity and how smoothly the game runs. Use the same scene for each comparison so the change in scaling is the main variable.
- Lower scaling only if needed. If performance is not acceptable, try the next lower scaling option and compare again. Keep the higher setting if the image is clear and performance meets your needs.
The available report of a three-choice scaling control comes from a Steam Deck test, not a confirmed inventory of every desktop option. Your PC build may present controls differently; use the options actually shown in your game.
Why a Steam Deck recommendation is not a PC preset
In its review of the Steam Deck version, Steam Deck HQ reported that Low scaling gave the best performance in its test. That is a handheld-specific observation from an earlier version, not a desktop recommendation for the Director’s Cut. Do not select Low automatically if your PC’s image quality and performance are already satisfactory.
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ZA/UM also described using Vulkan on Steam Deck to bypass Proton’s DirectX translation, reporting up to a 23% frame-rate increase in that context. The developer’s post also describes an 800p target selected for the Deck’s presentation and screen space. Neither figure is a Windows desktop performance claim or a resolution recommendation for PC monitors. The developer’s statement that platform optimizations can help other platforms was made in the context of its Deck work, not as a measured desktop gain.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed in the Director’s Cut
ZA/UM announced the PC release of the Director’s Cut for October 1, 2026, as a free update for existing owners. The update adds approximately 40,000 words of material, a new encounter, backstage mode, additional visual and atmospheric content, quality-of-life updates, and ultrawide support. These changes explain why older settings observations should not be treated as benchmarks of the current edition; the announcement does not provide a desktop performance matrix.
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