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To meet the current published minimum for Squadron 42, Steam lists a 64-bit PC running Windows 11, a quad-core Intel i7 Sandy Bridge-or-later or AMD Bulldozer-or-later processor, 16 GB of RAM, a DirectX 11.1-compatible graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM, DirectX 12, broadband internet, and 150 GB of available storage. Roberts Space Industries (RSI) separately says an SSD is required for its CIG games, including Squadron 42.
Those are minimum requirements, not a promise of a particular resolution, graphics setting, or frame rate. Steam does not publish useful recommended CPU or GPU targets. Its store listing gives a planned release window of Q2 2027; the game is not yet available on Steam.
What are the published minimum PC requirements?
The game-specific minimums below are from the Steam store listing as it appeared on October 13, 2026. Use them as a compatibility checklist rather than as a performance guarantee.
| Component | Published minimum | What to check on your PC |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11, 64-bit | Confirm that Windows is 64-bit and that the installed edition is Windows 11. |
| Processor | Quad-core Intel i7 Sandy Bridge or later, or AMD Bulldozer or later | Check both the CPU family or generation and the core count. The listing does not name a current recommended model. |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | Check installed system memory, not graphics-card memory. |
| Graphics card | DirectX 11.1-compatible card with 8 GB VRAM | Check the card’s available dedicated video memory and DirectX feature compatibility. |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 required | Check the DirectX version reported by Windows. Steam also separately specifies DirectX 11.1 compatibility for the graphics card. |
| Internet | Broadband connection | Steam gives no minimum speed, latency, or data-use figure. |
| Storage | 150 GB available | Plan for 150 GB of free space, not merely a drive whose total capacity is 150 GB. RSI’s general CIG requirements specify an SSD. |
The figures are published requirements, not benchmark results. Neither Steam nor RSI’s general requirements page says that meeting this list will produce a particular frame rate or graphics quality.
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Why do Steam and RSI show different requirements?
Steam’s page is specific to Squadron 42 and is the current source for the game’s listed minimums. RSI’s support article, “Game and Launcher Requirements,” covers CIG games more generally and includes Squadron 42. Updated December 17, 2025, it lists Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11, a DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4 GB of graphics memory, a quad-core CPU with AVX, AVX2, and FMA3, 16 GB or more of RAM, and a 150+ GB SSD.
| Requirement area | Steam: Squadron 42 listing, checked October 13, 2026 | RSI: general CIG requirements, updated December 17, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 11, 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 |
| Graphics memory | 8 GB VRAM | 4 GB graphics memory |
| CPU details | Quad-core Intel i7 Sandy Bridge or later, or AMD Bulldozer or later | Quad-core with AVX, AVX2, and FMA3 |
| System memory | 16 GB | 16 GB or more |
| Storage | 150 GB available | 150+ GB SSD |
These are not identical lists: they were published at different times and describe requirements at different levels of specificity. For a question about the current listed minimum for Squadron 42, follow Steam’s newer, game-specific values, including Windows 11 and 8 GB of VRAM. RSI’s broader article is useful for storage context: it says an SSD is required and discusses installation conditions for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen. It is not a reason to replace Steam’s game-specific figures with the older general figures.
Does the DirectX wording conflict?
Steam lists a graphics card compatible with DirectX 11.1 and also lists DirectX 12 as required. Keep both parts of the requirement in view: the first describes graphics-card compatibility; the second is the listed DirectX requirement. The store page does not explain further how the two entries relate, so there is no basis for treating one as a correction to the other or dropping either from a compatibility check.
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DirectX is not the same thing as VRAM. A card can have enough memory yet fail a compatibility requirement, or be compatible while having less than the listed 8 GB. Check both characteristics for the exact graphics card in the PC rather than relying on its product family name alone.
What does Steam recommend?
Steam’s Recommended section says only that the game requires a 64-bit processor and operating system. It does not provide a recommended CPU or GPU model, extra RAM target, recommended resolution, graphics preset, or frame-rate target. That entry is not a usable high-performance PC specification.
As a result, it is not possible to responsibly turn the published minimum into a more powerful “ideal build” from these official figures alone. A minimum does not establish what hardware will deliver smooth play at a particular resolution or quality level. If you are buying or upgrading specifically to target a performance level, wait for fuller official recommended specifications or independent tests of a released build. No released-build performance results are available in the cited listing and requirements information.
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How to check whether your PC meets the list
Gather your computer’s model details before deciding that it needs an upgrade. On Windows, open Settings > System > About to review the Windows edition, system type, processor, and installed RAM. For more detail, press Windows key + R, enter dxdiag, and press Enter. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool reports DirectX information and graphics-device details. RSI also points users to DxDiag or System Information for inspecting PC specifications.
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- Confirm Windows. Verify that the installed operating system is Windows 11 and that the system type is 64-bit. RSI’s older general page also mentions Windows 10 64-bit, but Steam’s current game-specific listing says Windows 11.
- Identify the processor. Record its full model name and core count. Compare the model against the Steam-listed Intel Sandy Bridge-or-later or AMD Bulldozer-or-later family threshold, and confirm it has at least four cores. Do not treat the generation wording as a recommended modern CPU tier.
- Check system RAM. Confirm that Windows reports at least 16 GB installed. Do not add system RAM and VRAM together: they are separate specifications.
- Check the graphics card. Identify the exact GPU model, then verify that it has 8 GB of VRAM and supports DirectX 11.1 compatibility. The Steam listing also names DirectX 12 as required.
- Check DirectX. In DxDiag, review the DirectX version reported on the System tab. Treat this as one check; it does not replace checking the graphics card’s stated compatibility and VRAM.
- Check storage and connection. Make sure at least 150 GB is free for the listed storage requirement and account for RSI’s SSD requirement. Steam specifies broadband internet but does not give a speed threshold.
For a laptop, check the graphics device that will actually run the game; a computer may report integrated graphics as well as a separate GPU. The listing does not explain laptop-specific configurations, so verify the exact active card and its specifications rather than assuming the laptop’s advertised graphics name answers every requirement.
What should you check before upgrading?
If a component falls short, first determine whether it can be upgraded in your particular PC. A mismatch in one item does not automatically mean the whole computer must be replaced, but a part that meets one number may still be incompatible with the system around it.
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- Graphics card: Check the motherboard slot, case clearance, power-supply capacity and connectors, and whether the card’s VRAM and DirectX capabilities meet the listed minimum. A card upgrade can require other changes; the sources do not identify a specific model to buy.
- Memory: Check the installed memory type, available slots, motherboard capacity, and whether the current modules can be combined with new ones. The published minimum is 16 GB, but Steam does not state a recommended amount beyond that.
- Storage: Check the drive interface and available space, and ensure the target drive is an SSD in light of RSI’s general requirement. Do not assume that buying a drive with 150 GB total capacity leaves the required 150 GB available after formatting or other files.
- Processor and platform: Confirm the exact CPU and core count before considering replacement. CPU upgrades may depend on motherboard and platform compatibility; the official minimum names processor-family eras rather than a current recommended model.
- Total cost: Compare the cost of the compatible parts you actually need with your budget and with the rest of the system’s condition. With no official recommended targets or performance benchmarks, a more expensive part cannot be claimed here to deliver a particular Squadron 42 frame rate.
Before purchasing anything, write down the current CPU, GPU, RAM, drive type, and free storage, then compare each against the Steam minimums. If you cannot verify an item—especially GPU VRAM, DirectX compatibility, or CPU generation—look up the exact component model rather than inferring from the PC’s age or marketing description.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much storage should you plan for?
Steam lists 150 GB available storage for the game. “Available” means free space on the drive at installation time; it does not mean a 150 GB drive will be sufficient if Windows, other games, or personal files already occupy part of it. The listing does not state a larger exact reserve, so there is no supported figure to add to 150 GB as a universal buffer.
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RSI’s general requirements call for a 150+ GB SSD for CIG games. It also recommends NTFS formatting and additional installation and pagefile space in the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen context. These details are general installation guidance, not a revised Squadron 42-specific Steam capacity number. Check the target drive’s format and available room, and leave space for the operating system and other data rather than filling a drive to capacity.
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Is the game available to install now?
No. Steam’s listing says Squadron 42 is not yet available on Steam and gives Q2 2027 as the planned release window. Q2 is a window, not a guaranteed launch date. In a February 4, 2026 update, RSI said the game remained in development and was unavailable for download; it described access for eligible RSI accounts after development, testing, and release. Steam is the primary source for the current listed release window.
The release status matters when deciding whether to upgrade now: the posted requirements may change before launch, and there is no released Steam build against which to validate the minimums with independent performance testing. Avoid treating today’s minimum list as a guarantee that a particular system will meet a future target beyond the published compatibility threshold.
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