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Roberts Space Industries (RSI) currently publishes general minimum requirements for its CIG games, including Squadron 42: a 64-bit Windows PC, a compatible quad-core processor, a DirectX 11.1 graphics card, 16GB or more of system memory, and an SSD. These are not confirmed final, game-specific launch requirements, and meeting them does not guarantee a particular resolution or frame rate. RSI says Squadron 42 remains in development and is not available to download.
RSI’s published minimum PC requirements
The table reflects RSI’s current published minimums for CIG games including Squadron 42. They are a baseline for checking a PC, not a tested configuration or a promise of smooth gameplay.
| Part | Published minimum | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit with the latest Service Pack, or Windows 11 | Confirm that Windows is 64-bit and that your edition is supported. RSI says Linux and macOS are not currently supported. |
| Processor | Quad-core CPU supporting AVX, AVX2, and FMA3; examples given are Intel i7 Haswell or later and AMD Excavator or later | Verify the instruction-set support as well as core count. A four-core processor alone may not meet the stated baseline. |
| Graphics card | DirectX 11.1-capable card with 4GB graphics RAM | Check both DirectX support and dedicated graphics memory; RSI does not specify a card model. |
| System memory | 16GB or more | Check installed system RAM, not the graphics card’s memory. |
| Storage | SSD with at least 150 GB | Check the drive type and available space. RSI does not require a particular SSD interface or brand. |
RSI’s requirements page was updated December 17, 2025. Its phrasing for storage is “150+ GB SSD required.” Read the complete [RSI Game and Launcher Requirements] for its full list and any later updates.
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How to check whether your PC meets each baseline
Compare your actual hardware with every row, rather than relying on a store listing, a single “gaming PC” label, or the number of CPU cores. A PC that meets most of the list but misses one item should not be treated as compliant with RSI’s published minimum. Check the five areas independently: supported operating system, CPU cores and instruction sets, graphics API and memory, system RAM, and SSD capacity and free space. No single label or component substitutes for the other checks.
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1. Confirm Windows support
Open Windows Settings and select System > About to see the Windows edition and system type. The system type should identify a 64-bit operating system. If you use a version of Windows not listed in RSI’s current requirements, or use Linux or macOS, the published support baseline does not cover that setup.
Do not assume that a computer is covered just because it can run Windows. RSI names Windows 10 64-bit with the latest Service Pack and Windows 11; its page says Linux and macOS are not currently supported. If the PC uses an older Windows installation or a different operating system, compare it against the exact supported list rather than treating general compatibility as confirmation.
2. Check the processor model and instruction sets
Find the processor model in Settings > System > About or in Task Manager under Performance > CPU. Core count is only part of the check: RSI calls for AVX, AVX2, and FMA3. Look up the exact processor model’s supported instructions in the processor maker’s specifications. The Intel and AMD generation examples in RSI’s list are useful reference points, but an example is not a substitute for confirming the specific CPU and its features.
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The listed Intel example is an i7 Haswell or later; the AMD example is Excavator or later. Those are examples in RSI’s general requirement, not a guarantee that every processor in those families has been individually tested for Squadron 42. Use the exact CPU model and its features as the check, not an assumption based only on the brand or family name.
3. Check graphics API support and memory
Identify the installed graphics adapter through Windows Device Manager or Task Manager’s Performance > GPU view. Then confirm the exact model’s DirectX 11.1 support and graphics-memory capacity in its specifications. Some PCs have both integrated graphics and a separate graphics card; in that case, check which adapter the system uses for games rather than assuming the more capable component is active.
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The stated graphics-memory figure is not system RAM, and it does not establish how well the game will run. RSI publishes no matching resolution, frame-rate target, or named GPU model in the cited requirements. A card with 4GB of graphics memory is not automatically a guarantee of a particular experience; the list gives a capacity and API threshold, not an FPS prediction.
When comparing graphics cards, check both conditions explicitly: DirectX 11.1 capability and at least 4GB graphics RAM. Looking only at a card’s memory amount, or only at a generic “gaming” description, leaves part of the published minimum unverified.
4. Check installed system RAM
Windows’ Settings > System > About and Task Manager’s Performance > Memory report installed memory. Compare that figure with the table’s system-memory baseline. Do not add the graphics card’s memory to the system RAM total; they are separate resources.
RSI says 16GB or more of system memory. If your computer has less than that, it falls short of this published line even if its graphics card has substantial onboard memory. Conversely, meeting the system-memory figure does not make up for a CPU, graphics, OS, or storage mismatch.
5. Check the drive and free capacity
In File Explorer, open This PC to see available space on each volume. Windows’ Optimize Drives utility can help identify whether a volume is a solid-state drive or a hard disk drive. Confirm that the destination volume is an SSD and has enough available capacity for the stated baseline, rather than checking only the total size printed on the drive’s packaging.
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Storage guidance: keep the two RSI figures separate
RSI also recommends an NTFS-formatted drive with at least 100 GB of space for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen installation, plus an additional 10GB of SSD space for the pagefile. These are separate launcher and Star Citizen recommendations in the requirements article; RSI does not describe them as an extra Squadron 42-only calculation. Do not add them to the game’s published SSD minimum and present the result as an official total requirement.
For a practical check, look at the volume where you expect an installation to go, its format, and its free space. The drive’s overall capacity and its currently free capacity are different: existing games and files reduce what is available. The pagefile recommendation is also distinct from the game’s storage figure, so leave room for it rather than interpreting it as an alternate way to satisfy the SSD threshold.
RSI does not mandate NVMe storage, a 1TB drive, or a particular manufacturer in the cited minimums. A larger drive may be a sensible personal choice if you want room for other software, but it is not a stated Squadron 42 requirement. If you are shopping for storage, a 1TB NVMe SSD is one possible search category, not an official target or an upgrade every player needs.
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The same RSI requirements page recommends Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.5.2, and lists TCP ports 8000–8020 and UDP ports 64090–64110. Those are software and networking details, not additional processor, graphics, memory, or storage thresholds. Keep them in view when setting up RSI software or troubleshooting connectivity, but do not treat them as hardware components to buy.
These notes should not be confused with the five hardware checks in the table. The .NET versions are software dependencies, while the TCP and UDP ranges concern network configuration. They do not change the listed CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, or operating-system baseline.
What the minimum does—and does not—tell you
RSI’s page supplies threshold specifications, not an in-game performance test. It does not name a target resolution or frame rate, give a recommended PC tier alongside the minimum, or say what settings will work on a machine that just meets the listed baseline. A configuration that clears each line therefore cannot be translated into a reliable prediction such as “60 fps” or “1440p.”
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The CPU examples should likewise be read as examples, not as a list of processors RSI has individually tested for Squadron 42. Instruction support is an explicit part of the baseline, while performance depends on more than the minimum labels. No third-party benchmark or statistically measured performance figure is established by the official materials cited here, so avoid using an unrelated benchmark as a guarantee for this unreleased game.
There also is no official minimum-versus-recommended PC comparison in RSI’s published material cited here. That means there is no RSI-endorsed “high settings” tier to use as a shopping target, and no official component model list to convert into a precise upgrade plan. Treat the listed figures as thresholds only, and avoid turning them into a promise about gameplay quality.
RSI’s official support article, updated February 4, 2026, says Squadron 42 is still in development and unavailable for download. It says qualifying account holders will be able to download it after development, testing, and release are complete. The [RSI download-status article] is the relevant place to verify availability, and the [RSI Get Started checklist] provides additional official onboarding context.
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If you already own a PC, identify the exact CPU and graphics adapter before spending money. Compare CPU instructions, graphics API and memory, operating-system support, RAM, and SSD capacity as separate checks. Upgrade only after locating a specific mismatch; replacing a component that already clears RSI’s published baseline does not establish that the game will perform better in a known way.
If you’re buying a system, use the requirements as a minimum screening checklist and do not confuse “meets minimum” with “recommended for high settings.” Since there is no official game-specific recommended configuration or performance target in the cited sources, a more powerful system may offer headroom in general, but no precise upgrade tier can be justified as necessary for Squadron 42 from these requirements alone. Check RSI’s pages again before making a purchase, because the title remains in development and published requirements can change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Squadron 42?
Compare it with RSI’s current published CIG minimums: Windows 10 64-bit with the latest Service Pack or Windows 11; a quad-core CPU supporting AVX, AVX2, and FMA3; a DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4GB RAM; at least 16GB system RAM; and a 150+ GB SSD. These are not confirmed final, game-specific launch requirements, and meeting them does not guarantee a particular frame rate or resolution.
Does Squadron 42 have final PC requirements yet?
The current RSI requirements are general minimums for CIG games including Squadron 42, not confirmed final game-specific launch requirements. RSI’s support article, updated February 4, 2026, says the game remains in development and is unavailable to download.
Do I need an NVMe SSD or a 1TB drive?
No such capacity or interface is specified in RSI’s minimum. RSI lists a 150+ GB SSD requirement and does not mandate NVMe, 1TB, or a particular brand. Its separate recommendation for at least 100 GB of NTFS drive space for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen, plus 10GB additional SSD space for the pagefile, should not be combined into a Squadron 42-only total.
Is 16GB of graphics memory the same as 16GB of system RAM?
No. RSI’s requirement is 16GB or more of system memory and separately calls for a DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4GB graphics RAM. Do not add graphics memory to system RAM when checking the two requirements.
Will the minimum specs deliver 60 fps or 1440p?
RSI does not publish a frame-rate or resolution target alongside these minimums. Meeting them is not a performance guarantee, and the published list does not specify settings or a tested configuration.
Can I use Linux or macOS?
RSI says Linux and macOS are not currently supported. Its listed operating systems are Windows 10 64-bit with the latest Service Pack or Windows 11.
Does RSI recommend a particular CPU, GPU, or upgrade budget?
The requirements name no specific current GPU model, no complete recommended PC tier, and no upgrade price. For the CPU, RSI gives Intel i7 Haswell or later and AMD Excavator or later as examples, but the specific processor must also support AVX, AVX2, and FMA3. Verify each component against the published baseline before buying.
The Bottom Line
RSI’s current published minimums for CIG games including Squadron 42 are Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11, a quad-core CPU with AVX/AVX2/FMA3, a DirectX 11.1 GPU with 4GB graphics RAM, 16GB+ system RAM, and a 150+ GB SSD. They are not final game-specific launch specs or performance guarantees; RSI says the game remains in development and is not available to download.
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