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Thinking about playing Scarlet Nexus on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Scarlet Nexus is an anime action RPG from Bandai Namco that launched on PC on June 24, 2021, built on Unreal Engine 4. It is not a heavy game: the official minimum spec asks for a GeForce GTX 760, and the recommended spec asks for a GTX 970 — entry-level and older mid-range cards by today’s standards. That makes it an easy game to run, but your resolution and frame-rate targets still decide what you should buy. This guide breaks down the official PC requirements for Scarlet Nexus, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
How Demanding Is Scarlet Nexus?
Scarlet Nexus is light on PC hardware, especially for a 2021 release. It is a level-based single-player action RPG rather than a sprawling open world, so it does not hammer your processor with simulation, physics or large-scale multiplayer workloads — the GPU does most of the work, and even that workload is modest. The publisher’s own minimum spec targets 1080p at 60fps on Low settings with a GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7970, while the recommended spec targets 1080p at 60fps on High with a GTX 970 or R9 290X. In practical terms, a budget card or a several-generations-old mid-range card runs it at 1080p without trouble, and 1440p or 4K come down to how much headroom you want rather than whether the game is playable. The official figures are listed in full below.
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View on AmazonScarlet Nexus Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3470 | AMD FX-8350 | Intel Core i5-4690K | AMD Ryzen 5 2600X |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 760, 2 GB | AMD Radeon HD 7970, 3 GB | Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, 4 GB | AMD Radeon R9 290X, 4 GB |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 50 GB available space | 50 GB available space |
Source: the official SCARLET NEXUS Steam store listing (app 775500), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Both tiers assume a 64-bit copy of Windows 10 and 50 GB of free disk space. The published performance estimates are 1080p at 60fps on Low for the minimum spec and 1080p at 60fps on High for the recommended spec, with frame rate drops possible in graphics-intensive scenes. Windows 10 version 1809 or later and a GPU with 4 GB of VRAM are required for the DirectX 12 API.
Best GPU for Scarlet Nexus by Resolution
1080p
1080p is the resolution the official specs are written around, and the recommended tier — a GTX 970 or R9 290X — is already enough for 60fps on High. That leaves plenty of room to spare. Older cards that meet or beat the official recommendation, such as the GTX 1060, GTX 1660 Super or RX 580, handle the game comfortably at 1080p. If you want high-refresh 1080p or maximum settings with headroom for other games, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is far more than Scarlet Nexus needs, and a current-generation budget card like the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT sits in the same comfortable territory.
1440p
1440p sits above the official target, so treat it as an enthusiast choice rather than a documented one — you simply need more GPU than the recommended GTX 970. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER runs Scarlet Nexus at 1440p on high settings with ease, and current-generation options such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 offer similar or better performance. Mid-range cards from recent generations, like an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT, are also enough for 1440p in this particular game.
4K
4K is well beyond anything the official requirements describe, and it is the only resolution where Scarlet Nexus asks real work of your graphics card. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a sensible entry point, with current-generation cards such as the RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT in the same class. Because there is no official 4K target, expect to lean on a resolution scale or upscaling option if the game’s display settings offer one, and to drop a setting or two to keep frame rates steady.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Scarlet Nexus
Scarlet Nexus is not CPU-heavy. The recommended processor is an Intel Core i5-4690K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, and the minimum is an i5-3470 or FX-8350, so almost any desktop CPU from the last decade keeps up. If you are building a new PC that will also run heavier games, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest gaming CPUs you can buy, and the Intel Core i5-14600K is a strong Intel alternative — but none of them are necessary for Scarlet Nexus itself. On memory, the official recommended figure is just 8 GB, with 6 GB as the minimum. A 16 GB kit is a comfortable modern baseline and far more than this game will ever use, and something like Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB only makes sense if you play much heavier titles alongside it. Storage is modest too: 50 GB of available space, on any drive. An SSD — ideally NVMe, such as the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD — will not change your frame rate, but it noticeably cuts loading times.
Recommended PC Builds for Scarlet Nexus
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — far beyond the official recommended spec, so it runs Scarlet Nexus at 1080p on maximum settings with high frame rates and leaves headroom for newer games. If this one title is all you care about, a GTX 1660 Super or RX 580 paired with an older quad-core CPU and 8 GB of RAM already meets the recommended requirements.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — comfortable 1440p gaming in Scarlet Nexus with plenty of headroom for more demanding titles.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K play, ideally with a resolution scale or upscaling option enabled if the game provides one.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Scarlet Nexus?
Probably not on Scarlet Nexus’s account alone. If you already have a GTX 970-class card you are at the official recommended spec, and the game runs at 1080p/60 on High. Upgrading only makes sense if you want 1440p or 4K, a high-refresh monitor, or you plan to play newer and heavier games as well. When you do upgrade, the graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in performance, so start there. A CPU from the last several years will not hold back a modern GPU in this game, so there is no reason to replace it for Scarlet Nexus. Memory is an easy, low-cost upgrade — going from 8 GB to 16 GB smooths out multitasking — and moving the game to an SSD trims load times, but neither changes the fact that this is a light, older title that runs happily on modest hardware.
Can You Play Scarlet Nexus on a Laptop or Handheld?
Yes. Because the official requirements are so modest, almost any gaming laptop from the last few years can run Scarlet Nexus at 1080p — a mobile GPU in the GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 class is enough for the recommended experience, and something like an RTX 4060 laptop has headroom to spare. Expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop, so play plugged in where you can. On handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, this 2021 action RPG runs comfortably at sensible settings, making it a good portable pick. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and pair it with a fast microSD or SSD for storage — the game needs 50 GB, so plan your space accordingly.
How to Boost FPS in Scarlet Nexus
If frame rates are lower than you would like, start with resolution: dropping from 1440p to 1080p, or lowering a resolution scale or upscaling option if the game’s display settings include one, is usually the single biggest gain. After that, reduce the most expensive graphics settings first — shadow and effect quality are the usual suspects — before turning everything down. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and install the game on an SSD so loading and streaming hitches stay to a minimum. On hardware this modest, a stable frame rate at moderate settings almost always feels better than chasing maximum visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Scarlet Nexus?
Very likely. The official minimum is an Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD FX-8350, 6 GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7970 — hardware from around 2012–2013. For the recommended 1080p/60 experience on High settings you need an i5-4690K or Ryzen 5 2600X, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 970 or R9 290X.
Is Scarlet Nexus demanding on PC?
No. Scarlet Nexus is a light title by modern standards: it arrived in 2021 on Unreal Engine 4 with a minimum spec built around a GTX 760, and even the recommended GPU is a GTX 970. A budget or older mid-range system handles it comfortably at 1080p.
What GPU do I need for Scarlet Nexus at 1440p 60fps?
1440p is not an official target, so there is no published spec for it — you simply need more than the recommended GTX 970. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class card is far more than enough, and mid-range cards such as an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT are also sufficient for 1440p in this game.
How much RAM does Scarlet Nexus need?
The official minimum is 6 GB and the recommended figure is 8 GB, so 16 GB is not required for this game. That said, 16 GB is a sensible baseline for a modern gaming PC because it leaves room for other games and background apps. Faster memory makes little difference here.
Do I need an SSD for Scarlet Nexus?
No — the only official storage requirement is 50 GB of available space, and the game will run from a hard drive. An SSD is still worth having: a drive like the Samsung 990 Pro cuts loading times and reduces streaming hitches, and it makes the rest of your PC feel faster too.
