Techland’s PC requirements for Dying Light: The Beast land squarely between “accessible” and “future‑ready,” promising smooth 1440p/60 play for mainstream rigs while reserving native 4K and ray‑traced Ultra modes for high‑end, very recent GPUs — and the studio’s published tables and storefront pages make those performance envelopes explicit.
Background
Dying Light: The Beast is Techland’s next major entry in the Dying Light franchise, shifting focus to Kyle Crane’s struggle to control a beast within and setting the action in the rural, atmospheric Castor Woods. The game was moved to a September 19, 2025 release to allow extra polish, and Techland has published a four‑tier PC spec sheet (Minimum, Recommended, High, Ultra) plus a separate laptop chart to cover portable hardware. The headline claim that matters to most Windows PC players is straightforward: the Recommended tier targets
1440p at 60 FPS on Medium settings without requiring flagship silicon, while
native 4K/60 with high settings and ray tracing is explicitly billed as a high‑end proposition. That framing appears across the official Steam store and Techland’s press materials.
What Techland Published: The System Requirements, Explained
Desktop tiers — Minimum, Recommended, High, Ultra
The published desktop tiers are intended to map performance targets to representative CPU/GPU pairings. The essentials are:
- Minimum (1080p, 30 FPS, Low): GPU — GTX 1060 / RX 5500 XT / Intel Arc A750 (6 GB); CPU — Intel i5‑13400 / Ryzen 7 5800F; RAM — 16 GB; Storage — 70 GB SSD; OS — Windows 10 or newer.
- Recommended (1440p, 60 FPS, Medium): GPU — RTX 3070 Ti / RX 6750 XT / Intel Arc B580 (8 GB); CPU — Intel i5‑13400F / Ryzen 7 7700; RAM — 16 GB; Storage — 70 GB SSD.
- High (4K, 60 FPS, High): GPU — RTX 4070 Ti / RX 7900 GRE (12 GB); CPU — i7‑13700K / Ryzen 9 7800X3D; RAM — 32 GB; Storage — 70 GB SSD.
- Ultra (4K, 60 FPS, Ultra with RT + Frame Generation): GPU — RTX 5070 / AMD RX 9070 / Intel Arc (12 GB listed); CPU — i9‑14900K / Ryzen 9 7950X3D; RAM — 32 GB; Storage — 70 GB SSD. Techland pairs this tier explicitly with ray‑traced global illumination/reflections and vendor upscalers + frame generation.
These are the numbers Techland published and the Steam store displays; usage notes from the studio call out modern PC technologies —
DLSS 4 (including frame generation), AMD FSR 3.1/4 (on selected devices), Intel XeSS 2, Nvidia Reflex 2, AMD AntiLag 2, HDR, and wide‑format support — as critical levers to reach the stated targets.
Laptop chart
Techland published a separate laptop chart listing Minimum, Recommended, and High laptop targets that reflect mobile power envelopes (e.g., RTX 3050 → RTX 4070 laptop class) and mobile Intel/AMD CPUs/AI silicon. The laptop Recommended tier targets
1080p/60 Medium on an RTX 3080 Laptop or similar, while a High laptop tier targets 1440p/60 on stronger HX‑class chips. The SSD and 70 GB install headline remain consistent across laptop tiers.
Quick Summary of the Numbers (for scanning)
- 70 GB SSD required (install footprint and streaming benefits).
- 16 GB RAM baseline for Minimum/Recommended; 32 GB recommended for High/Ultra.
- 1440p/60 is achievable on mainstream desktop GPUs (RTX 3070 Ti / RX 6750 XT).
- Ray tracing + Ultra 4K is clearly aimed at very recent or next‑gen cards (studio lists RTX 5070 / RX 9070). Treat those SKU names as target hardware envelopes.
How Realistic Are These Targets in Practice?
The role of upscalers and frame generation
Modern AAA PC titles increasingly depend on
upscaling + frame generation to hit smooth framerates without native rendering at full resolution. Techland lists support for
NVIDIA DLSS 4 (including frame generation),
AMD FSR 3.1 & FSR 4 (limited device availability), and
Intel XeSS 2. On a rig that meets the Recommended spec, using a balanced upscaler/performance combo should make the 1440p/60 target attainable while keeping visual fidelity high. However, aggressive frame generation affects perceived input latency and motion clarity, which matters for fast, reflexive encounters. Practical takeaway:
- Use upscalers to hit framerate targets on mid‑range GPUs.
- Keep frame generation settings conservative if input latency matters (e.g., if streaming or competing online).
VRAM and GPU throughput: the dominant gating factors
VRAM and raw GPU throughput remain the biggest constraints for visual fidelity at 1440p and especially 4K. Techland’s Recommended tier lists an 8 GB GPU allocation, which is realistic for medium settings at 1440p when paired with upscalers. The High and Ultra tiers jump to 12 GB and explicitly ask for GPUs with greater raw shader/RT throughput; this reflects the heavy cost of RTGI, reflections, and higher resolution texture sets. Expect VRAM pressure and texture streaming to be the first cause of stutters on slower drives.
CPU and RAM: less dramatic, but not negligible
Techland keeps CPU targets reasonable for non‑competitive targets: i5‑13400F levels for Recommended, while High/Ultra cite mid/high i7/i9 and Ryzen X3D silicon. That mirrors the modern pattern where GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and ray‑traced workloads, but fast multi‑core CPUs do help reduce frame‑time spikes on large open worlds and improve CPU‑bound background tasks (streaming, simulation, physics). RAM recommendations (16 vs 32 GB) align with other AAA releases — 16 GB is fine for single‑task play at lower settings, 32 GB adds headroom for Ultra, mods, or background apps like capture/streaming.
Strengths — What Techland Got Right
- Clarity and tiers: The four‑tier system is clear and actionable. Players can map their rigs to an expected target (1080p/30, 1440p/60, 4K/60). This is useful for purchasing or for moving settings in‑game.
- Modern PC feature set: Full support for DLSS 4 (and frame generation), Intel XeSS 2, AMD FSR, HDR, ultra‑wide, and latency optimizations show the studio intends to tune for all major GPU ecosystems. That increases the practical player base able to reach stated targets.
- Accessible baseline: Minimum specs remain within reach for older but still common hardware (GTX 1060 / RX 5500 XT). The SSD requirement modernizes the install experience and reduces streaming hitches.
- Transparent install footprint: A clear 70 GB SSD headline helps players prepare storage. That number is realistic for a modern open‑world title with high‑quality assets.
Risks, Caveats, and What to Watch For
- Ultra‑tier SKU names may be aspirational: The Ultra list includes SKUs (RTX 5070, RX 9070) that map to very recent or next‑gen product names. Treat those entries as the studio’s target hardware envelope rather than a strict requirement — existing flagship cards from the previous generation may still perform comparably depending on drivers and optimizations. Flag this as tentative until independent benchmarks appear.
- Frame generation tradeoffs: Hitting 4K/60 with RT “enabled” on Ultra likely assumes frame generation. That changes the feel of motion and introduces potential artifacts; competitive players or low‑latency purists should budget for stronger native GPU performance rather than relying solely on frame generation.
- Driver and upscaler maturity: DLSS 4 and FSR 4 are very new technologies. Early driver/Game Ready releases historically introduce edge‑case stability issues. Expect day‑one driver patches and potential follow‑up hotfixes from GPU vendors. Waiting a week or updating drivers right before play is advisable.
- Storage headroom: The 70 GB figure is a good baseline, but day‑one patches, optional assets, and temporary files will push actual consumption higher. Reserve an extra 20–40 GB on the target SSD to avoid install problems.
- Laptop variability: The laptop chart is useful, but laptop performance is highly dependent on power budgets and thermal design. A laptop RTX 3080 in a thin chassis will not match a full desktop RTX 3080; interpret laptop entries as targets rather than guarantees.
Upgrade and Tuning Recommendations
If you have an older mid‑range rig (GTX 10/16/20 series)
- Expect playable 1080p/30 at Low settings per Techland’s Minimum tier.
- Use an upscaler (if available on your GPU) and prioritize SSD installation to minimize streaming stutters.
If you own a mainstream modern rig (RTX 3060/3070 / RX 6600–6750)
- Target the Recommended tier: 1440p/60 Medium settings using DLSS/FSR/XeSS for upscaling to balance fidelity and smoothness.
- Keep background apps closed and ensure GPU drivers are up to date.
If you are an enthusiast chasing 4K/RT
- Budget a high‑end GPU (RTX 4070 Ti and above, or AMD RX 7900 series) and consider 32 GB RAM to minimize memory‑paging artifacts.
- Expect to rely on either modern DLSS 4 + frame generation or a true flagship GPU for native frame rates.
Laptop buyers
- Prefer HX‑class CPUs and 80W+ laptop GPUs for Recommended/High tiers.
- Verify thermal throttling behavior in real reviews — laptop class performance can vary massively across vendors even with the same silicon.
Troubleshooting and Pre‑Launch Prep
- Install on NVMe SSD when possible to speed asset streaming and reduce hitching. Techland’s installer requires an SSD per published notes.
- Update GPU drivers to the latest Game Ready or Adrenalin release matched to the launch window; new titles often trigger driver patches that improve stability and performance.
- If experiencing crashes, check for BIOS/UEFI updates and Windows updates; open‑world titles with anti‑cheat systems or kernel hooks can fail on outdated firmware. (This is a general best practice for recent AAA releases.
- For multi‑monitor or ultrawide setups, be prepared to tweak resolution scaling and refresh rates; the title advertises ultra‑wide support, but frame pacing can be sensitive at non‑standard aspect ratios.
What This Means for the PC Market and Players
Dying Light: The Beast’s requirements are a useful snapshot of where AAA PC performance expectations stand in late 2025:
- Accessibility persists: 16 GB RAM baselines and modest Minimum GPUs keep the game available to a wide installed base — an important commercial decision for a single‑player survival horror title.
- Upscalers are mainstream: The studio’s explicit support for DLSS 4, FSR 3.1/4 and XeSS 2 shows that frame generation/upscaling are no longer optional add‑ons; they are core performance levers that shape real‑world experience.
- Ultra fidelity remains premium: Native 4K and heavy RT still require new silicon or reliance on frame generation. The industry continues to bifurcate into mainstream (good fidelity with upscalers) and premium (native high‑fidelity RT) experiences.
Final Verdict and Practical Checklist
Dying Light: The Beast presents a pragmatic and realistic set of system requirements that let mainstream players enjoy a high‑quality 1440p/60 experience without replacing the entire rig, while signalling that true Ultra + RT fidelity is a high‑end proposition. The studio’s decision to publish clear tiers with target GPUs, CPUs, and a single‑number install footprint (70 GB SSD) is welcome.
Before hitting “install,” follow this checklist:
- Confirm at least 70 GB free on an SSD (NVMe preferred).
- Match your target resolution to the tier: 1080p → Minimum; 1440p → Recommended; 4K → High/Ultra.
- Update GPU drivers and Windows; expect vendor hotfixes around launch.
- Decide whether to use frame generation (trade latency for FPS) or prefer native frames (budget for stronger GPU).
- If on laptop hardware, consult real‑world reviews for thermal throttling and sustained clocks.
A note of caution: the Ultra tier lists next‑gen or very new SKU names in places; regard these as the studio’s target hardware envelope rather than immutable rules — independent benchmarking in the first post‑launch weeks will be the truest guide to real‑world performance. Dying Light: The Beast’s PC requirements reflect the balancing act modern developers face: keep entry barriers low enough to reach a broad audience, while showcasing cutting‑edge visuals for players with the latest hardware. For the majority of Windows gamers, the Recommended tier offers the best compromise of image quality and performance; enthusiasts who want RTRAY at Ultra will pay the premium in GPU silicon or accept the tradeoffs of frame generation.
Source: Khel Now
Dying Light The Beast: PC Requirements revealed by Techland
