Days Gone PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum for Days Gone lists an Intel Core i5-2500K at 3.3GHz or an AMD FX 6300 at 3.5GHz for the processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 (3 GB) or AMD Radeon R9 290 (4 GB) for the graphics card, 8 GB of RAM, 70 GB of storage, and an SSD, which the publisher states is required. By today's standards, the i5-2500K and FX-6300 are very old entry-level chips, and the GTX 780 and R9 290 are early entry-level cards. In practice, this is a bar that lets older systems start the game, not a promise of a comfortable experience.
The recommended tier asks for an Intel Core i7-4770K at 3.5GHz or a Ryzen 5 1500X at 3.5GHz, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8 GB), 16 GB of RAM, the same 70 GB storage, and an SSD. In our tier comparison, the recommended graphics card sits roughly in the GTX 1060 6GB range, which is a mainstream 1080p class, and the recommended processor is an older entry-to-mid level part. Going from minimum to recommended mainly means a stronger graphics card and double the RAM. For you as a player, reaching the recommended tier means the open world and combat should run with more headroom, while sitting at the minimum usually means making more compromises in the settings.
The official listing does not state target resolutions or frame rates, so treat these requirements as a check that your system clears the basic bar rather than a guarantee of how the game will look or run.
Both tiers list the same storage and SSD requirement, so the storage advice is identical whichever tier you aim for.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build pairs an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT with an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and 16 GB of RAM. It suits players who want to start on a tight budget and are happy to play at 1080p with low to medium settings. The RX 6500 XT is a light card, so if you plan to upgrade later, think of it as a stepping stone.
The mainstream build uses an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 8GB with an Intel Core i5-10400F and 16 GB of RAM. This is the setup that best matches the recommended requirement tier: the graphics card sits above the GTX 1060 level, and the processor is well ahead of the older quad-core parts in the official recommendation. It is a good fit for players who want 1080p at medium to high settings without spending much. If you already own a GTX 1660 or RTX 2060, those also sit in the mainstream range and pair well with 16 GB of RAM.
The high-end build combines an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and 16 GB of RAM. Its graphics card is well above the recommended tier, so it suits players who want higher settings or more headroom for the next few years. If you also run other demanding software or games, 32 GB of RAM is the safer choice.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In an open-world action-adventure game like this, the settings that usually cost the most are shadow quality, volumetric lighting and fog, depth of field, and the density of crowds and scene objects. Shadows and volumetric effects are expensive over large distances, so they are the first things to lower. Draw distance also has a large effect on the load in an open map, and it is easy to notice when you lower it.
Anti-aliasing and the main material and texture detail are settings worth keeping where possible. Texture quality mainly affects how much video memory the graphics card uses. If your card has enough memory, changing it often costs little visually, yet it has a direct effect on image clarity. If your card supports DLSS, FSR, or XeSS, the quality modes of these upscalers render at a lower internal resolution and scale the result up. This is a common way to reduce the load without a large drop in image quality, though each technology and its supported hardware differ, so choose the one that fits your card.
If the game offers ray tracing, it is usually not the first thing to turn on at the recommended tier. A practical approach is to get the rasterized settings running smoothly first, then decide whether you have enough headroom to try ray tracing.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop graphics cards often share names with desktop parts, such as an RTX 3050, but they usually deliver less performance because of tighter power limits and cooling. When you evaluate a laptop, look at the card's power configuration and cooling design rather than the model name alone. If the machine throttles noticeably under sustained load, the experience will feel uneven. Playing while plugged in, keeping the vents clear, and choosing a model with a dedicated graphics card are all practical steps.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally depend on their built-in processor and graphics hardware, and on whether the game can run within the adjustable power and graphics range of the device. In general, handhelds need lower settings and resolutions and may rely on upscaling or power tuning. We do not have verification data for any handheld, so we cannot give a specific rating here. Check community reports before deciding, and use the official requirements as the baseline.
Storage and memory
The official listing asks for 70 GB of storage and an SSD. An SSD mainly shortens loading and makes moving between areas of the open world smoother. On a traditional hard drive you are likely to see noticeable loading pauses, so install the game on an SSD even if the rest of your system is strong. When installing, leave more room than the 70 GB minimum to cover updates and save data.
For memory, the minimum is 8 GB and the recommended amount is 16 GB. Today 16 GB is the safer starting point, leaving room for the operating system and background programs so you see fewer stutters caused by memory pressure. If your motherboard supports dual-channel memory, install matched modules in pairs so both channels are active, which helps overall stability and performance. If you also keep a browser, streaming software, or other large applications open, 32 GB gives you more flexibility.