theHunter: Call of the Wild™ PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is an Intel i3-4170. By our comparison that sits roughly at the Intel Core i3-4130 level, which is a very old entry-level processor. The minimum GPU is an NVIDIA GTX 660 or AMD HD7870 with 1GB of VRAM, roughly the GTX 570 class of older budget cards. The minimum asks for 4GB of RAM and 140GB of storage.
The recommended CPU is an Intel quad-core processor, with no specific model listed. The recommended GPU is an NVIDIA GTX 760 or AMD R9 270X with 4GB of VRAM, roughly the GTX 1050 Ti class. Recommended RAM is 8GB and storage is again 140GB. The gap between minimum and recommended is mostly about GPU power and memory capacity. It tells you the publisher expects a smoother experience with the stronger listed parts.
The publisher does not list an SSD requirement, so a traditional hard drive will work. An SSD will mainly shorten loading times, which matters in an open world that streams a lot of data.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players on a tight budget who want to get the game running first. It pairs an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super with an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 or Intel Core i3-10100F and 16GB of RAM. The RX 6500 XT meets the recommended tier but only just, so you will need to lower some settings yourself. The GTX 1650 Super sits well above the recommended tier and gives more headroom at low to medium settings.
The mainstream build is for players who want a steadier experience at medium to high detail. The GPU choice overlaps with the entry build, but you can step up to a GTX 1660 Super or RTX 3050 8GB. The CPU options include an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10400, with 16GB of RAM. Both the GPU and CPU here are well above the recommended tier.
The high-end build suits players who want high settings and higher resolutions. It uses cards such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super, RTX 4060 or AMD Radeon RX 7600, paired with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i7-11700K. We suggest 32GB of RAM for this tier. Every part here is well above the recommended tier, so high settings and longer view distances are realistic.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In open-world simulation games like this one, shadows, volumetric lighting and fog usually cost the most GPU power. Density of grass, trees and wildlife affects how steady the picture stays, especially in forests and grasslands. Pushing view distance too far loads both the GPU and memory. These are normally the first settings to lower, and the visual difference is often small.
Ray tracing, if your card supports it, is usually one of the most demanding options. Unless you have a higher-end card, it is worth leaving it off. Anti-aliasing can be tuned to your card's capability, so find a balance between sharpness and performance.
Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and scale the image up to your display. This can improve smoothness with little loss of image quality. NVIDIA cards can use DLSS, while FSR and XeSS are available on many other cards, so pick whichever your hardware supports.
Laptops and handheld PCs
A laptop GPU often shares its name with a desktop card but delivers noticeably less performance. Laptops have tighter power limits and smaller cooling systems, so the mobile version usually trails the desktop one. Before buying, check the laptop's power settings and cooling reviews. While playing, keep the machine plugged in and well ventilated to avoid throttling.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally use low-power mobile hardware. These devices can run the game, but usually need lower settings and resolutions, and often rely on upscaling or a frame rate cap to stay stable. We do not have verification data for handhelds, so we cannot give a specific rating here. Check community reports and start with conservative settings.
Storage and memory
The official minimum asks for 4GB of RAM and the recommended is 8GB. Four gigabytes is already tight, and running a browser or other programs alongside the game can easily run you out. We suggest at least 16GB, ideally in dual-channel mode: two sticks of the same capacity placed in the slots recommended by your motherboard manual, which gives the memory more bandwidth.
The official storage figure is 140GB, but the game keeps receiving updates, so the installed size may grow. Leave extra free space on the drive. No SSD is required, and the game runs from a hard drive, but a solid-state drive noticeably cuts loading and streaming delays. If your budget allows, install the game on an SSD.