NieR:Automata™ PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum for NieR:Automata™ is an Intel Core i3 2100 or AMD A8-6500 for the processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 with 2GB of VRAM or an AMD Radeon R9 270X with 2GB for the graphics card, 4GB of RAM and 50GB of storage. In our tier comparison, that GPU sits around the older entry level, roughly where a GeForce GTX 670 would be, and the CPU is a very old entry-level chip.
The recommended tier raises this to an Intel Core i5 4670 or AMD A10-7850K, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 with 4GB of VRAM or an AMD Radeon R9 380X with 4GB, 8GB of RAM and the same 50GB of storage. The recommended GPU is roughly a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti class card, and the CPU is close to a Core i5-4670K. The practical gap is mostly more VRAM and double the system memory, which helps with texture and loading stability.
The publisher does not require an SSD, only a standard amount of free space. Hard drives will run the game, but an SSD still noticeably shortens loading and area transitions, so it is one of the more worthwhile upgrades if you can afford it.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to clear the recommended tier for the least money. A GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 with 4GB or more of VRAM paired with a Ryzen 5 3500X or Core i5-10400F, and 16GB of RAM, comfortably exceeds the official recommendation while leaving some room to upgrade later.
The mainstream build is the sweet spot for most people. A GTX 1660 Super or RTX 3050 8GB with a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400 has clear headroom above the recommended tier and suits players who want higher default settings without overspending.
The high build is for players who want higher resolutions or more effects. An RTX 4060 or RX 7600 with a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-12400 and 16GB of RAM, or 32GB if you multitask or stream, is far above the recommended spec, and the extra performance mainly goes toward resolution and visual quality.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In action RPGs like this one, the settings that usually cost the most are shadows, volumetric lighting and fog, depth of field, reflections, and the density of objects and crowds. If you need headroom, lower shadows and reflections first, since their visual payoff is often smaller than their cost. View distance also adds load and can be reduced moderately.
Texture quality and anti-aliasing are worth keeping high. Textures mostly use VRAM, so if you have enough, raising them costs little speed and improves detail noticeably. Anti-aliasing cleans up edges, and a lighter method is a reasonable compromise if it feels expensive.
Upscaling technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct a sharper image. When your card supports them and the game offers them, they can buy back performance with modest image quality loss. The exact difference depends on the mode and the implementation, so compare them yourself.
Laptops and handheld PCs
A laptop GPU with the same name as a desktop card is usually a weaker part. Mobile versions tend to run lower power limits and have less cooling room, so the real performance can fall well short of the desktop version. When buying a laptop, check its power and cooling specs rather than only the GPU name.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are capable but have limited hardware. They work best at lower settings and resolutions, and their built-in scaling and frame-rate tools can help. We have no Steam Deck verification data for this game, so we cannot give a specific compatibility rating; check community reports and try it yourself.
On either type of device, keep cooling in mind during long sessions, since heat-related throttling can hurt the experience. Staying plugged in usually lets the device hold a higher performance state.
Storage and memory
The official recommendation is 8GB of RAM. We suggest at least 16GB so that browsers, chat apps or streaming tools running alongside the game do not cause trouble. Dual-channel memory raises bandwidth, so if your motherboard supports it, make sure the sticks sit in the correct slots.
The official storage figure is 50GB. Leave some extra room for updates and save data. An SSD cuts loading and transition times noticeably. It is not required, and the game will run from a hard drive, but if your budget allows, an SSD is strongly recommended.