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Roberts Space Industries (RSI) currently publishes shared minimum system requirements for its games, including Squadron 42. They provide a compatibility baseline—not a recommended gaming build or a promise of any particular frame rate. The latest requirements page in this article’s source set was updated December 17, 2025; RSI said on February 4, 2026 that Squadron 42 was still in development and unavailable to download. Check RSI’s pages again before buying or upgrading, since requirements and availability can change.
What PC specs does Squadron 42 require?
RSI’s published list calls for Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11, a compatible quad-core processor, a DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4 GB of graphics memory, at least 16 GB of system RAM, and a 150+ GB SSD. These are shared CIG game minimums that include Squadron 42, not final-release, game-specific performance recommendations. RSI’s requirements page says these minimums are strongly recommended to effectively install, load, and play its games.
| Component | RSI’s published minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 |
| CPU | Quad-core processor with AVX, AVX2, and FMA3; Intel i7 Haswell or later, or AMD Excavator or later |
| Graphics | DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4 GB RAM |
| System memory | At least 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | 150+ GB SSD |
RSI does not name a specific graphics card model, resolution, graphics preset, or target frame rate in this list. Meeting the minimum therefore does not establish that a PC will deliver smooth performance at a particular quality setting.
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What storage space should you allow?
The 150+ GB SSD is the stated game requirement. RSI separately recommends an NTFS-formatted drive with at least 100 GB for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen installation, plus at least 10 GB of additional SSD space for the pagefile. Those separate figures are not a replacement for the listed 150+ GB SSD requirement. Check the current requirements page for the latest installation and storage guidance before setting up a drive.
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How to check whether your current PC meets the minimums
RSI suggests using Windows System Information or DXDiag to inspect a system’s specifications. Compare the actual components and capabilities—not just a PC’s marketing label—with every listed minimum.
- Check Windows: Confirm the installed operating system is Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11.
- Check the processor: Verify the CPU has at least four cores and supports AVX, AVX2, and FMA3. The Intel and AMD generation examples in RSI’s list do not replace checking the required instruction sets.
- Check graphics: Confirm the graphics card supports DirectX 11.1 and has at least 4 GB of graphics memory.
- Check system memory: Confirm the PC has at least 16 GB of RAM.
- Check the installation drive: Make sure an SSD has the required capacity and enough free space for the game and the separately described storage guidance.
Which upgrades should you prioritize?
First address any explicit minimum your PC misses. Buying a faster component that does not resolve the shortfall—for example, more graphics performance when the CPU lacks a required instruction set—does not make the system meet RSI’s full list.
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- Unsupported operating system: Plan for a supported Windows version before spending on components.
- CPU shortfall: Check core count and all three required instruction sets. Before replacing a CPU, confirm motherboard compatibility.
- Graphics shortfall: Look for DirectX 11.1 support and at least 4 GB of graphics memory. Check the card’s fit, interface, and power needs against the PC.
- Insufficient RAM: Upgrade to at least 16 GB, checking the motherboard’s supported memory configuration.
- No suitable SSD or insufficient capacity: Add or replace a drive that meets the capacity requirement. RSI does not specify SATA versus NVMe, form factor, interface, speed, or a drive manufacturer, so verify compatibility with the system before purchasing.
Motherboard, expansion-slot, interface, power-supply, and case-fit checks are general component-purchasing precautions; RSI’s published requirements do not specify those details for a particular PC.
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Use the same checklist for each system you are considering. Check supported Windows, CPU core count and instruction sets, graphics API and memory, system RAM, and SSD capacity and free space. If two systems meet the minimums, RSI’s published list does not establish which will run the game better or what frame rate either will achieve. It also does not support a particular CPU or GPU ranking or an expensive “best” build recommendation.
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RSI’s Development Hub links Public Telemetry, which lets readers view performance data from community machines and gauge how a build may measure up. Treat it as context, not a prediction for your individual PC: the available community data cannot guarantee a result for your exact configuration or a future Squadron 42 release. Visit RSI’s Development Hub for its telemetry link.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Squadron 42 available to download?
In its February 4, 2026 support update, RSI said, “Squadron 42 is currently in development and is not available for download.” Its shared minimum requirements do not establish the game’s final-release requirements. Because the game was unavailable at that update, there was no final-release benchmark or downloadable build to use as a basis for predicting performance. Check RSI’s availability article and the requirements page for current information before purchasing hardware specifically for this game.
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