Ubisoft’s highly anticipated open-world adventure, Star Wars Outlaws, is set to release on August 30th. As gamers gear up for this exciting title, the official PC system requirements have been revealed, offering a comprehensive look at what players will need to run the game smoothly. While the specifications might seem daunting at first glance, a deeper dive shows that Ubisoft has taken steps to ensure that a broad range of setups can handle the game, primarily through the use of upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR.

Understanding the System Requirements

Ubisoft has provided multiple performance tiers for Star Wars Outlaws, starting from “Minimum” and moving up through “Recommended,” “High,” and “Ultra.” Each tier specifies a target resolution and quality setting, such as 1080p Low at 30fps for Minimum or 1440p High at 60fps for High.

Minimum Requirements:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, Intel Core i7-8700K
  • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1660 (6 GB), AMD RX 5600XT (6 GB), Intel Arc A750 (8 GB, with ReBAR on)
  • Memory: 16 GB (dual-channel mode)
  • Storage: 65 GB SSD
  • Resolution: 1080p, 30 FPS, Low graphics preset with upscaler set to Quality

Recommended Requirements:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, Intel Core i5-10400
  • Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti (8 GB), AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (12 GB)
  • Memory: 16 GB (dual-channel mode)
  • Storage: 65 GB SSD
  • Resolution: 1080p, 60 FPS, High graphics preset with upscaler set to Quality

High Requirements:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, Intel Core i5-11600K
  • Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3080 (10 GB), Nvidia RTX 4070 (12GB), AMD RX 6800 XT (16 GB)
  • Memory: 16 GB (dual-channel mode)
  • Storage: 65 GB SSD
  • Resolution: 1440p, 60 FPS, High graphics preset with upscaler set to Quality

Ultra Requirements:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Intel Core i7-12700K
  • Graphics: Nvidia RTX 4080 (16 GB), AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX (24 GB)
  • Memory: 16 GB (dual-channel mode)
  • Storage: 65 GB SSD
  • Resolution: 2160p, 60 FPS, Ultra graphics preset with upscaler set to Quality

The Role of Upscaling

One of the most notable aspects of these requirements is Ubisoft’s assumption that players will use upscaling technologies like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) or FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution). Each performance tier recommends an upscaler set to “Quality” to achieve the specified frame rates. This implies that, regardless of your hardware setup, upscaling is expected to play a crucial role in delivering a smooth gaming experience.

For the uninitiated, upscaling technologies work by rendering the game at a lower resolution and then using advanced algorithms to upscale the image to a higher resolution. For example, a game might be rendered at 720p and then upscaled to 1080p. This method significantly reduces the load on the GPU, allowing for higher frame rates without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Impact on Different Tiers

Minimum Tier: Even the lowest tier requires a GTX 1660 or equivalent, targeting 1080p at 30fps with low settings. The inclusion of upscaling means the game will likely be rendered at 720p and then upscaled to 1080p, reducing the performance burden on older hardware.

Recommended Tier: Aiming for 1080p at 60fps with high settings, this tier requires more robust GPUs like the RTX 3060 Ti. Upscaling here ensures smoother performance without necessitating the latest hardware.

High and Ultra Tiers: These tiers push the boundaries with targets of 1440p and 2160p at 60fps, respectively. They require high-end GPUs such as the RTX 3080 and RTX 4080. Upscaling from lower resolutions like 1080p to 1440p helps maintain high frame rates while delivering crisp visuals.

Implications for Gamers

The emphasis on upscaling reflects a broader industry trend where rendering games at native resolutions is becoming less common, especially at higher settings. For gamers, this means you can enjoy the latest titles even if you don’t have the absolute latest hardware. However, it also means that understanding and enabling these technologies will be crucial for optimizing your gaming experience.

While the inclusion of Intel GPUs in the Minimum category shows some flexibility, it is noteworthy that these GPUs don’t make it to the higher tiers. This could indicate that, despite improvements, Intel’s Arc graphics cards still have limitations compared to Nvidia and AMD counterparts.

Final Thoughts

Ubisoft’s approach with Star Wars Outlaws demonstrates a clear shift towards making high-quality gaming more accessible through the use of upscaling technologies. By providing multiple performance tiers and assuming the use of DLSS and FSR, Ubisoft ensures that players with a wide range of hardware can enjoy the game.

As upscaling becomes the norm, gamers will need to adapt, but the benefits of smoother performance and the ability to run demanding games on less powerful hardware are clear. As always, staying informed about your hardware capabilities and the technologies available will help you get the most out of your gaming experience.

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