The anticipated launch of Skate, a popular game eagerly awaited by enthusiasts, has been accompanied by the release of its system requirements for PC. The developers have focused on delivering an optimal experience through aggressive upscaling techniques, thereby ensuring that gamers do not need the latest hardware to enjoy the game. Notably, Linux and macOS users will have to wait as these operating systems are not supported at the initial launch due to compatibility issues with existing anti-cheat software.
System Requirements Breakdown
The requirements are sliced into four categories: Minimum, Medium, Recommended, and Ultra. Each tier is designed to accommodate different levels of performance and graphical fidelity.
- Minimum: For users aiming to play at 30fps with 1080p resolution, the minimum system requirements include an OS of Windows 10 or 11 with DirectX 12, a GPU of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 460, or Intel Arc A380, 4GB of VRAM, a CPU of Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 3 3100, 8GB of RAM, and 25GB of storage.
- Medium: To achieve 60fps at the same resolution, a step up in hardware is needed, with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, or Intel Arc A580 serving as the minimum GPU requirement. RAM increases to 16GB.
- Recommended: For a higher visual fidelity at 1440p and 60fps, the game specifies a GPU of Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, or Intel Arc B570, paired with 16GB RAM and a similar CPU upgrade to Intel Core i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600.
- Ultra: Finally, for those seeking top-notch 4K performance at ultra settings, the game recommends a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, with an emphasis on 32GB RAM, ensuring smooth frame rates and stunning visuals.
A consistent storage requirement of 25GB ensures that users aren't surprised by large downloads, although the necessity for an SSD has not been declared as essential yet.
Upscaling Considerations
The game's developers explicitly mention the use of balanced upscaling settings to achieve recommended and ultra presets. This essentially means the performance benchmarks involve technologies like AMD's FSR or Intel's XeSS, both known for boosting visual quality without heavily taxing hardware. Without upscaling, users might find their systems working harder than anticipated to maintain graphical performance.
Other Key Details
The game also confirms a notable requirement on PC—a controller is mandatory as mouse and keyboard setups are not supported currently. This aligns with the game's design philosophy and ensures a cohesive gameplay experience.
Overall, while Skate does not support Linux or macOS at launch, and despite the requirement of a controller, the thoughtful system specifications aim to cater to a wide audience, giving as many players as possible the opportunity to enjoy the game's dynamic and engaging world.
