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Start with your current PC’s specifications and compare them with RSI’s published minimums before buying hardware. RSI’s requirements page covers its games, including Squadron 42, but it is not a final, game-specific performance benchmark. RSI said on February 4, 2026 that Squadron 42 was still in development and unavailable to download, so treat this as a provisional checklist and recheck official guidance before making an expensive upgrade.
What PC requirements has RSI published?
Roberts Space Industries’ “Game and Launcher Requirements,” updated December 17, 2025, lists these minimums for CIG games including Squadron 42:
| Component | RSI-published minimum or guidance |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack) or Windows 11. RSI says Linux and macOS are not currently supported. |
| Graphics | DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4 GB graphics memory. This is the page’s minimum wording, not a recommended target. |
| Processor | Quad-core CPU with AVX, AVX2, and FMA3; Intel i7 Haswell or later, or AMD Excavator or later. |
| System memory | 16 GB or more RAM. |
| Storage | 150+ GB SSD required. |
RSI’s storage notes also recommend 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 figures are not a confirmed Squadron 42 installation-size estimate. See RSI’s Game and Launcher Requirements.
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How to check whether your PC meets the baseline
Record your system details first, then compare the operating system, CPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD with RSI’s published guidance. RSI points users to Windows System Information or the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DXDiag).
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- Open System Information: search Windows for “System Information” and open the result. Note the Windows version, processor, and installed physical memory.
- Check the graphics card: open DXDiag by pressing
Windows key + R, enteringdxdiag, and pressing Enter. Review the Display tab for graphics-device details. DXDiag also shows DirectX information; compare the card with RSI’s DirectX 11.1 and 4 GB graphics-memory wording. - Check the drive: in File Explorer, open “This PC” to identify the drive where you intend to install the launcher and game content and to see its free space. Use Windows’ drive properties to check the file system and confirm whether it is an SSD.
- Compare each item: check the CPU’s core count and support for AVX, AVX2, and FMA3, not just its model family. If you cannot confirm an instruction set or drive detail from the Windows screens, check the PC or component manufacturer’s specifications.
How much SSD space should you leave?
Use RSI’s stated requirement as the threshold: a 150+ GB SSD is required. The page separately recommends NTFS formatting, at least 100 GB for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen installation, and another 10 GB of SSD space for the pagefile. Keep those statements in their stated context; they do not establish Squadron 42’s final download size or total installed footprint.
If your present drive is below the published requirement or does not have enough available room for RSI’s stated storage guidance, an SSD upgrade may be relevant. Check that the drive is compatible with your PC and has adequate capacity before purchasing. If your current storage already meets the requirement, the cited guidance gives no reason to replace it solely for Squadron 42.
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Which driver should you use?
RSI’s requirements page does not specify a graphics-driver version or say that a particular driver will improve frame rate. Check the GPU maker’s supported driver for your exact graphics card and Windows version, and follow its installation guidance. Treat this as routine compatibility maintenance—not an RSI mandate or a guaranteed performance fix.
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Should you upgrade RAM or the graphics card?
Make the decision against the published minimum and your own compatibility constraints, rather than assuming a purchase will deliver a specific result.
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- RAM: if your PC has less than 16 GB, investigate a compatible upgrade. Check motherboard or laptop limits and memory compatibility before buying. The minimum does not establish that adding more than 16 GB guarantees a particular outcome.
- Graphics card: if your card does not meet RSI’s stated DirectX 11.1 and 4 GB graphics-memory minimum, a compatible card that does may address that gap. The published requirements do not identify a recommended model or predict performance for a particular card.
- Storage: prioritize checking the SSD requirement and available capacity if your drive is the part that falls short. Do not buy RAM or a GPU to solve a storage shortfall.
RSI’s Development Hub describes Public Telemetry as a view into performance on community machines. It can provide broad context when considering system performance, but it is not a promised frame rate for your individual PC and does not establish Squadron 42 performance at release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you check again?
In an RSI support update dated February 4, 2026, the company said: “Squadron 42 is currently in development and is not available for download.” RSI described completion, testing, and release as still pending. Since there is no released game here to validate these checks against, revisit RSI’s requirements and availability information close to release before making a costly upgrade. See RSI’s Squadron 42 download-status page.
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