One of the most ambitious PlayStation exclusives released to date, Returnal finally makes its bow on PC in February 2023 and brings with it a critically acclaimed mix of finely tuned third-person shooter action, opulent visuals and roguelike design that elevate it beyond its genre peers.
Be sure to keep this guide in your favourites as we go through everything you need to know about Returnal on PC including the release date, minimum and recommended PC specifications, PC improvements, gameplay details, story details, latest trailer and more.
Returnal PC Release Date, Digital Store Availability
The Returnal PC release date has been confirmed as February 15, 2023. Returnal on PC will enjoy a full release through Steam and through the Epic Games Store. Developed by Housemarque and released under the PlayStation Studios publishing banner, Returnal previously released for PS5 on April 30, 2021.
Returnal PC System Requirements – Can My PC Run Returnal?
With the buttery smooth 60 frames per second action that underpins its ultra-responsive frenetic combat alongside an arresting visual presentation, Returnal was always going to require a substantial PC to get the most from it. Boasting a truly current generation visual feature set, Returnal has not one or two PC specifications but instead five different PC specifications that provide a broad spectrum of performance across a swathe of different hardware configurations. Want to know if or how well your PC can run Returnal? Check out the Returnal PC specification guides below to put your mind at ease.
Returnal Minimum PC Specification
- Avg. performance: 720p resolution @ 60 fps
- Graphic settings: Low
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8 GB)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 (4 core 2.7GHz) or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X (4 core 3.5GHz)
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Storage: 60 GB HDD (SSD recommended)
Returnal Medium PC Specification
- Avg. performance: 1080p resolution @ 60 fps
- Graphic settings: Medium
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (6 GB)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 (6 core 2.8GHz) or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (6 core 3.4GHZ)
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Storage: 60 GB SSD
Returnal Recommended PC Specification
- Avg. performance: 1080p resolution @ 60 fps
- Graphic settings: High
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super (8 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (12 GB)
- CPU: Intel i7-8700 (6 core 3.7 GHz) or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (8 core 3.7 GHz)
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Storage: 60 GB SSD
Returnal Epic PC Specification
- Avg. performance: 4K resolution @ 60 fps
- Graphic settings: Epic
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 (10 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB)
- CPU: Intel i7-9700K (8 core 3.7 GHz) or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (8 core 3.6 GHz)
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Storage: 60 GB SSD
Returnal Ray Tracing PC Specification
- Avg. performance: 4K resolution @ 60 fps (use of Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR techniques recommended to hit fps target)
- Graphic settings: Epic
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti (12 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT (16 GB)
- CPU: Intel i9-11900K (8 core 3.5 GHz) or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (12 core 3.7 GHz)
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Storage: 60 GB SSD
How Does Returnal On PC Improve On The PS5 Version?
Returnal was already a delectable technical treat when it released on PS5 back in April 2021 and much like other PlayStation Studios titles on PC, Returnal benefits from a whole host of upgrades that help to elevate it beyond its console origins. For starters Returnal on PC boasts full support for Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (32:9) aspect ratios, allowing players to experience the surrealist alien environments of Atropos like never before. Further afield, support for a native 4K resolution presentation ensures that Returnal on PC looks absolutely razor-sharp with highly detailed edges and vertices, while a whole new suite of additional ray-tracing options provide a depth of reflection and lighting detail in Returnal on PC that just isn’t possible on the PS5 version of the game.
Returnal on PC also boasts support for performance-enhancing technologies such as NVIDIA’s DLSS, NVIDIA NIS and AMD’s FSR2, allowing PC owners the ability to squeeze every ounce of performance out of their hard-working GPUs while maintaining an impressive level of visual fidelity. Returnal on PC also brings an FPS counter, a gauge for GPU and CPU usage and a latency tracker to the table too, allowing players to tweak the experience precisely to their liking.
Neatly supplementing all of those technical improvements, Returnal on PC also replicates all of the existing features of the PS5 version of Returnal. This means that Returnal on PC enjoys Dolby Atmos sound and immersive full 3D audio, alongside comprehensive support for Sony’s DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers which help to bring a palpable level of feedback and physicality to the third-person shooter action of Housemarque’s finest hour.
Returnal PC Gameplay Details
As Selene, a wayward astronaut who crash lands on the hostile alien planet of Atropos, Returnal is a third-person shooter that tasks players with locating a mysterious signal in order to break a time loop that returns Selene to the site of her crashed ship every time she perishes. Taking in roguelike and psychological horror influences, together with more than a leaf or two from the book of bullet hell shooter design, Returnal is an entirely unique, progression focused, third-person shooter odyssey that is arguably well deserving of its numerous Game Of The Year nods.
Returnal on PC also includes all of the post release content that was released for the PS5 version of the game too, including the ability to engage in a spot of online cooperative play, Suspend Cycle functionality (essentially being able to save your game state mid-cycle), Tower of Sisyphus expansion content and full Photo Mode functionality.
Returnal PC Trailer
The latest trailer for Returnal on PC is available to watch right now and showcases all of the new technical and visual features that are exclusive to the PC version of the game. From support for higher resolutions, improved ray-tracing techniques and Ultrawide and Super Ultrawide aspect ratios, the Returnal PC features trailer does a commendable job of highlighting exactly how Returnal on PC separates itself from the previously released PS5 version of the game. You can catch the latest Returnal PC trailer above.
Shop for Returnal on PC
Now you know everything you need to know about Returnal on PC, head over to the Green Man Gaming store and grab your copy today. It’s time to bite off a piece of bullet hell action for less.
