The Alters PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU for The Alters is an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or an Intel Core i7-6700. Today the Ryzen 5 1600 sits in the older entry-to-mid range, and the i7-6700 is several generations back. This is the bar that lets the game launch and run, not what most current systems look like.
For graphics, the minimum is an AMD Radeon RX 570, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or an Intel Arc A570, with at least 6 GB of video memory. Those cards are roughly in the older entry tier today. The recommended list names an AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or an Intel Arc A770, with at least 8 GB of video memory. The RTX 2070 and RX 6600 XT are a reasonable match for the mainstream, 1080p class, so the recommended level is a clear step up from the minimum.
The recommended CPU is an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X or an Intel Core i7-8700K, a noticeable jump from the Ryzen 5 1600. Both levels list 16 GB of RAM and 50 GB of storage, and the publisher does not require an SSD. So the real gap between minimum and recommended is mostly the CPU and GPU. If your machine only meets the minimum, the game should run, but you may need lower settings to keep it smooth. Meeting the recommended level gives you more headroom at a typical 1080p setup.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to play this adventure on a tighter budget. Pair a GeForce GTX 1660 Super or an RTX 3050 8GB with a Ryzen 5 4500 or a Core i5-10400F, and use 16 GB of RAM. This combination is aimed at the official minimum level, perhaps a bit above it, and is best with medium settings.
The mainstream build is the choice most players should consider. An AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT or an RTX 3060 12GB pairs well with a Ryzen 5 3600 or a Core i5-11400F, again with 16 GB of RAM. This tier roughly corresponds to the official recommended level, so you should be in good shape at the recommended settings, with some room left for future patches.
The high-end build is for players who want higher settings or a higher resolution. Consider an RTX 4070 Super or a Radeon RX 7800 XT, a Ryzen 7 7700X or a Core i7-12700K, and 32 GB of RAM. For this game, the extra power mostly buys headroom rather than being strictly necessary.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In adventure games like this one, the settings that usually cost the most are shadows, volumetric lighting and fog, the density of scene and character detail, and view distance. If you need to trim load, start with shadow quality and volumetrics, which often give the least visual benefit for their cost. View distance matters more in wide or open areas and less in enclosed spaces.
Ray tracing is usually not the first priority here. If your GPU is older, keep it off or set it low and spend your budget on other options. Texture quality generally has a small performance cost, but it needs enough video memory, so on a 6 GB or 8 GB card avoid setting textures too high to prevent stutter.
Upscaling technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the image at your target resolution. They usually offer a good balance of image quality and speed. If your GPU supports one, enable it and try a quality mode. Results depend on your hardware and the in-game settings, so compare the image yourself.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share names with desktop cards, but they are not equal. Laptop versions typically run with lower power limits and are constrained by cooling, so a laptop RTX 3060 will not match a desktop RTX 3060. When checking whether a laptop meets the requirements, use the laptop variant's specifications and power settings rather than the name alone.
Cooling matters too. During long sessions, weak cooling can cause the system to reduce clock speeds to protect the hardware, which hurts consistency. Keep vents clear, choose a performance-oriented power mode, and play while plugged in.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are a different case. Their overall performance and adjustable power range are limited, so you will generally need lower settings and resolution and should make use of any available upscaling. We do not have Steam Deck verification data for this game, so we cannot give a compatibility rating. Check what other players report and start from low settings.
Storage and memory
The official minimum and recommended levels both list 16 GB of RAM. Dual-channel configuration gives better memory bandwidth, so use two matching modules rather than a single stick. If your budget allows, 32 GB gives the system more room between the game and background programs, though it is not essential for this title.
Storage is listed at 50 GB. Leave more free space than that to cover updates and installation temporary files; keeping at least 60 GB free is a sensible margin. An SSD is not required, but it noticeably shortens loading times and makes scene transitions smoother. A mechanical hard drive will still run the game, just with longer waits.
Finally, if your drive runs low on space, updates may fail to install, so it is worth checking available space regularly.