Escape from Tarkov needs a Windows PC with at least 16 GB of RAM and 80 GB of free storage, and the recommended spec asks for a hefty 64 GB of RAM. Below you’ll find the minimum and recommended requirements from Steam and Battlestate Games (BSG) support, what to watch out for with disk space, why the game doesn’t run on Steam Deck, and where things stand with Mac, consoles and controllers. Everything is current as of 20 October 2026 and applies to both the Steam and BSG website versions.
Minimum and recommended requirements
The figures below come from the game’s Steam page and match the system requirements article on BSG support.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or similar | Intel Core i7-14700F or better |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 64 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 1660 or similar | RTX 4070 or better |
| DirectX | 11 | 11 |
| Storage | 80 GB | 80 GB |
Source: Steam and BSG support, as of 20 October 2026.
64 GB of RAM in the recommended spec
Memory is the line that stands out. The minimum is 16 GB, while BSG recommends 64 GB, four times as much. The recommended build also assumes Windows 11, an Intel Core i7-14700F and an RTX 4070.
BSG support adds that if your PC falls below the requirements, it doesn’t automatically mean the game won’t run. Treat the table as a guideline, not a lock. BSG doesn’t say how the game performs on specific hardware, so we won’t guess either.
If you haven’t bought the game yet and want to know whether your PC is up to it, the table above is your starting point. Edition prices and the differences between Steam and the BSG website are covered in our guide to price and editions.
Disk space and the launcher’s temp folder
Plan for 80 GB. The BSG website version has one catch, though. The launcher first downloads the installation file to a temporary folder, by default BsgLauncherTemp, and only then unpacks it into the game folder. A “not enough space” error can therefore refer to the drive holding the temp folder rather than the drive you’re installing to.
The fix is simple: you can move the temp folder to a drive with more space in the launcher settings. Other launcher errors and BSG’s official fixes are in our guide to errors and anticheat.
If you own the game from the website and want to play through Steam, expect a fresh install. According to BSG’s Steam FAQ, you need to fully reinstall the game through Steam, and the files downloaded by the launcher can’t be reused.
Steam Deck: unsupported
Escape from Tarkov won’t run on Steam Deck. Steam’s compatibility check lists it as unsupported because SteamOS doesn’t support the game, and BSG’s Steam FAQ adds that there are no plans for Steam Deck support. This isn’t a temporary launch-window issue.
Mac, Linux and consoles
The game is Windows PC only. On Steam there’s no Mac or Linux version. In its FAQ, BSG lists a console release as a plan for the future and Mac support as something under consideration. There’s no date and no specific platforms, so for now you can’t play Tarkov on a console or a Mac.
Internet and controllers
You can’t play Escape from Tarkov without an internet connection. That includes the PvE Zone, where you only fight AI, as the game has no offline mode.
Steam doesn’t list controller support for the game, so plan on mouse and keyboard.
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
In its anticheat developer diary of 9 April 2026, BSG mentioned that it’s considering requirements such as TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot. For now that’s only a possible next step, not a condition for launching the game. As of 20 October 2026 you won’t find either in the system requirements.
Once your PC is ready, carry on with our beginner’s guide. Join our Discord if you get stuck, other players are happy to help: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
The minimum is 16 GB of RAM and the recommendation is 64 GB. Both figures are listed on Steam and by BSG support.
Steam and BSG both list 80 GB. The BSG website launcher downloads to a temp folder first, so you may also run out of space on the drive holding that folder.
No. Steam lists it as unsupported because SteamOS doesn’t support the game, and BSG has no plans for Steam Deck support.
BSG plans a console release in the future and is considering Mac support. No date or platforms have been announced, and the game is Windows PC only.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our Escape from Tarkov section.