Published requirements describe a target, not a promise. For game system requirements checker, the honest answer depends more on your settings than on the sticker on your machine.
The approach below has been checked against the current version rather than a patch from two years ago. People often blame the game when the actual cause is a setting they changed weeks ago. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
The short answer
If your machine is near the minimum, it will run — at low settings, at a lower resolution, and with occasional dips you will learn to ignore.
What actually limits performance here
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. Nothing below requires mods, paid tools or an account on some sketchy site. Anything marked optional really is optional, so skip it without guilt. The approach below has been checked against the current version rather than a patch from two years ago.
Start with the simplest option before touching anything that is hard to reverse. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. Anything marked optional really is optional, so skip it without guilt.
Minimum versus recommended
The community figured most of this out through repetition, and the pattern has held up well. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
- Check the version you are running before following any step-by-step advice.
- Write down what you changed, so you can undo it if the result gets worse.
- Back up your save if the game gives you the option.
- Test one change at a time instead of five at once.
Settings to turn down first
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. Give the first attempt an honest try before deciding the method does not work. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing.
The community figured most of this out through repetition, and the pattern has held up well. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Following a guide written for an older version and assuming nothing moved.
- Trusting a video thumbnail over the actual patch notes.
- Skipping the preparation step because it looks boring, then repeating the hard part four times.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run it on a laptop?
Usually yes, with settings lowered and expectations adjusted. Sustained performance depends heavily on cooling.
Is more memory or a better card the better upgrade?
If you are at or below the minimum memory figure, memory first. Otherwise the graphics card is the bigger lever.
Does this still work after the latest update?
It did at the time of writing. If a step no longer matches, the underlying idea normally still applies even when a menu has moved.
Game System Requirements Checker is not complicated once the order of operations is clear, and now it is.