Baldur’s Gate 3 System Requirements: Minimum & Recommended PC Specs
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the biggest role-playing games (RPG) in recent years. Developed by Larian Studios, it brings back the magic of the Dungeons & Dragons universe in a detailed and modern way. The game is massive, full of choices, characters, and adventures that can keep you busy for hundreds of hours.
But before you dive into this epic fantasy world, it is important to check if your PC or laptop can actually run the game smoothly. System requirements are always a big question for PC players, especially when the game is as large and visually detailed as Baldur’s Gate 3. In this article, we will explain the minimum and recommended system requirements, storage needs, and also give you some performance tips in simple words.
Minimum System Requirements
If you just want to start the game and are okay with playing on low settings, then the minimum requirements are what you should look at. These are the specs officially given by Larian Studios.
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Operating System (OS): Windows 10 (64-bit)
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Processor (CPU): Intel i5-4690 or AMD FX-8350
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Memory (RAM): 8 GB
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Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD RX 480 (4 GB VRAM)
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DirectX: Version 11
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Storage: 150 GB available space
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Other: SSD strongly recommended
With these specs, the game will run, but do not expect very high quality graphics or super smooth performance. You may need to lower the resolution to 1080p and play on low to medium settings.
Recommended System Requirements
If you want the best experience with smoother performance, detailed graphics, and fewer frame drops, then check the recommended requirements.
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Operating System (OS): Windows 10 (64-bit)
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Processor (CPU): Intel i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
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Memory (RAM): 16 GB
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Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia GTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 5700 XT
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DirectX: Version 11
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Storage: 150 GB SSD space
These requirements are meant for 1080p or 1440p gaming at high settings. If you play on 4K resolution, you may still need an even stronger graphics card.
Storage and Installation Size
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a very large game. The installation size is around 150 GB, so having a solid-state drive (SSD) is almost necessary. Playing on a normal hard drive (HDD) can cause longer load times, stuttering, and slower performance. If you have the option, always install it on an SSD for the smoothest gameplay.
Why Baldur’s Gate 3 Needs High Specs
There are a few reasons why the system requirements for this game are high compared to many other RPGs:
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Large Open Maps: The game has big environments with lots of detail, characters, and objects.
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High-Quality Graphics: Lighting, textures, and character models are very advanced.
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Complex Story Choices: The game keeps track of many player decisions, which requires processing power.
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Cinematic Cutscenes: Almost every dialogue is voice-acted and shown with detailed animations.
All of this makes Baldur’s Gate 3 one of the most advanced RPGs in recent years, but also means your PC needs to be ready.
Can You Play on Low-End PCs?
If your PC is below the minimum requirements, the game may not run at all, or it may crash often. However, if you just barely meet the minimum, you can still try these steps to improve performance:
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Lower the resolution to 720p or 1080p.
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Set graphics to Low.
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Turn off background apps while playing.
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Keep your drivers up to date.
Remember, Baldur’s Gate 3 is very demanding, so low-end PCs may struggle even with these changes.
Playing on Laptops
Many players use gaming laptops to enjoy modern RPGs. Baldur’s Gate 3 can run well on laptops, but make sure yours has at least a GTX 1650 Ti or better graphics card with 8 GB RAM for minimum settings. For a smoother experience, a RTX 3060 or higher is better. Also, since the game uses a lot of power, keeping your laptop plugged in is recommended while playing.
Future Updates and Performance
Larian Studios continues to release patches and updates that improve performance and fix bugs. This means that the game might run better over time as more optimizations are added. Still, the base requirements remain high because of how much content and detail the game has.
Final Thoughts
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterpiece of role-playing games, but it also demands a strong system to enjoy it fully. To sum up:
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Minimum Specs allow you to play, but at lower quality.
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Recommended Specs give you smooth gameplay with high graphics.
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SSD is a must for better load times.
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A modern mid-range GPU is needed for 1080p or higher.
If your system is close to the recommended requirements, you will get the most out of this epic adventure. Whether you are a fan of Dungeons & Dragons or just love deep RPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 is worth the space and the power it demands.
