Thinking about playing Rise of the Ronin on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Released on March 10, 2025, Rise of the Ronin is an open-world samurai action RPG, and it arrives with one of the more detailed official spec sheets of any recent release. The short version: this is a mid-range-friendly game rather than a 4K showcase, and the two things that catch people out are the 155 GB install and the fact that an SSD is listed as required rather than merely recommended. This guide breaks down the official requirements, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
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How Demanding Is Rise of the Ronin?
Rise of the Ronin is a moderately demanding, mid-range-friendly release rather than a hardware killer. The official minimum spec — an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of VRAM or an AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT with 8 GB, paired with an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and 16 GB of RAM — is expected to run the game at 1080p and 30 FPS on the lowest graphics settings with upscaling enabled. The recommended spec, an RTX 2080 Super or RX 6700 XT alongside a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-10600K, targets 1080p at 60 FPS on standard graphics settings, again with upscaling. Both tiers assume Windows 10 or 11 in 64-bit and DirectX 12, and both note that Frame Generation can be used to increase FPS. Two requirements are firmer than usual: an SSD is mandatory, with poor SSD performance potentially affecting gameplay, and 155 GB of free space is needed for the install. Multi-channel memory is also recommended. The figures below are the publisher’s own, so plan around them rather than around generic rules of thumb.
Rise of the Ronin Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows® 10/11 64bit | Windows® 10/11 64bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-10400 or better, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or better | Intel Core i5-10600K or better, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or better |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (VRAM 6GB) or better, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (VRAM 8GB) or better | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super (VRAM 8GB) or better, AMD Radeon RX 6700XT (VRAM 12GB) or better |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 155 GB available space | 155 GB available space |
Source: the official Rise of the Ronin Steam store listing (app 1340990), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Best GPU for Rise of the Ronin by Resolution
1080p
The official minimum — a GTX 1060 6 GB or RX 5500 XT 8 GB — gets you 1080p/30 on the lowest settings with upscaling, which is a foot in the door rather than a comfortable way to play. For 1080p/60 on standard settings, you want the recommended class of card or better, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a sensible modern starting point: it sits in the same bracket as the recommended GPUs, supports DLSS and Frame Generation (which the developers explicitly suggest using to raise frame rates), and leaves headroom for higher settings. Current-generation alternatives such as the RTX 5060 or Radeon RX 9060 XT clear the recommended bar comfortably as well.
1440p
The published spec sheet stops at 1080p, so 1440p means leaning on upscaling to render internally at a lower resolution. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class card is the sweet spot here: it has considerably more horsepower than the recommended tier and, with DLSS or FSR in a quality mode, gives you plenty of headroom at high settings. Newer options like the RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 sit above that and let you push settings or upscaling modes further. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and it is a realistic one for this game.
4K
4K is where Rise of the Ronin asks for a genuinely high-end GPU, because you are effectively rendering at a much lower internal resolution and upscaling to the display. An NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a realistic entry point, with current-generation cards such as the RTX 5070 Ti or Radeon RX 9070 XT offering more headroom. Upscaling is not optional at this resolution — it is how the game is meant to be run — so a card with strong upscaling support matters more than raw shader throughput.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Rise of the Ronin
The processor requirements are modest for a 2025 open-world game: the official recommended CPU is a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-10600K, both six-core parts from several generations back, and the minimum is a Ryzen 5 1600 or Core i5-10400. This is not a CPU-bound simulation or large-scale strategy title, so any modern six-core is more than enough. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value and well beyond the recommended tier, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. For memory, 16 GB is the official figure at both tiers, and the notes specifically call for a multi-channel memory architecture — in practice that means two matched sticks rather than one, which matters more here than raw capacity. If you want future-proofing, 32 GB of DDR5 such as Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB is a reasonable step up. Storage is the strictest requirement of all: 155 GB of free space, an SSD is required, and an NVMe drive is recommended, so a fast NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD is the right place to put the game to keep load times and asset streaming smooth.
Recommended PC Builds for Rise of the Ronin
1080p budget build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the recommended spec, so 1080p at 60 FPS on standard settings with upscaling and room to spare.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — the setup most players should aim for, with headroom above the official 1080p targets.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling enabled.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Rise of the Ronin?
If your current graphics card is a generation or two old, Rise of the Ronin is a reasonable excuse to upgrade, but be strategic about it. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose — the official minimum is only a GTX 1060-class card, so anything from roughly RTX 2060 or RX 6600 upward will handle 1080p with sensible settings. The CPU is rarely the weak link here, and a mid-range chip from the last few years will not bottleneck a modern GPU in this game, so you can usually keep it. The upgrades that are genuinely non-negotiable are the SSD — the game requires one and will not be happy on a mechanical drive — and a dual-channel memory kit, since the official notes call for multi-channel memory. Make sure you have 155 GB of free space on that drive before you install, and target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Rise of the Ronin on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060 or better mobile GPU, a modern six-core CPU and 16 GB of RAM can run Rise of the Ronin at 1080p with upscaling enabled, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. The main practical obstacle is the 155 GB install, so pick a laptop with a large NVMe SSD rather than relying on external storage. On handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, this is a large open-world game with a mandatory SSD install, so plan on low settings with aggressive upscaling, and a 30 FPS target is the realistic expectation — the same bar the official minimum spec sets at 1080p. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and enough fast internal storage to hold the game.
How to Boost FPS in Rise of the Ronin
If frame rates are low, enable upscaling first — DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, or XeSS on Intel — since it offers the single biggest performance gain, and turn on Frame Generation if your GPU supports it, as the developers specifically call it out as a way to raise FPS. Next, drop the most expensive settings: shadow quality, effects-heavy options and post-processing are usually the first places to gain performance before you touch overall resolution. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, make sure the game is installed on an SSD as required, and check that your RAM is running in dual-channel. Lowering settings to hit a stable frame rate almost always feels better than chasing maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Rise of the Ronin?
If your PC has at least a GTX 1060 6 GB or RX 5500 XT 8 GB, an i5-10400 or Ryzen 5 1600, 16 GB of RAM and an SSD with 155 GB free, it meets the official minimum and should run the game at 1080p/30 on the lowest settings with upscaling. For 1080p/60 on standard settings, aim for the recommended tier: an RTX 2080 Super or RX 6700 XT with a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-10600K.
Is Rise of the Ronin demanding on PC?
It sits in the moderate range. The recommended GPU is an RTX 2080 Super or RX 6700 XT, which is a mid-range target rather than a flagship one, and both official tiers aim at 1080p with upscaling. What is unusually firm is storage: an SSD is required, NVMe is recommended, and the install is 155 GB.
What GPU do I need for Rise of the Ronin at 1440p 60fps?
The official specs only cover 1080p, so 1440p means relying on upscaling. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is a solid choice for high-settings 1440p in Rise of the Ronin, especially with upscaling enabled. Cards in this tier give you comfortable headroom above the recommended spec.
How much RAM does Rise of the Ronin need?
16 GB of RAM is the official figure at both the minimum and recommended tiers. The requirements also recommend a multi-channel memory architecture, so two matched sticks are preferable to a single module of the same capacity. 32 GB is a reasonable future-proofing step but is not required.
Do I need an SSD for Rise of the Ronin?
Yes. An SSD is listed as required, and the requirements note that poor SSD performance may affect gameplay; an NVMe SSD is recommended for the 155 GB install. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal.
