Do you want to play Star Citizen but don't know where to start? Here is what you need:
Star Citizen Requirements Checklist
Windows PC
Internet Connection
Referral Code
Star Citizen Game Package < - Important
Once you have checked all the boxes above you should be good to go!
What kind of computer do I need to play Star Citizen?
Important Notice: Star Citizen is constantly growing and these specs will be out of date so do your own research always.
Star Citizen aims to push the boundaries of what is technically possible in a 3D virtual universe. As such it requires as good a gaming PC as you can get your hands on.
For a premium experience you will want:
| Operating System | Windows 11 (or 10) |
| CPU | Late generation fast cores |
| GPU | 12GB+ VRAM |
| RAM | 32GB+ |
| Storage | 2TB SSD or NVME / M.2 |
| Internet | Broadband |
| Screen Resolution | 4K |
What is the minimum spec computer that can run Star Citizen?
Please visit the official telemetry page to see how your system might perform: robertsspaceindustries.com/telemetry
How much drive space is required to install and run Star Citizen?
Star Citizen is currently in active development and the drive space required to install the game is constantly increasing. Currently playtesters will need at least 100 GB free for the LIVE version of the game and double that if you want to also have the TEST Universe playable (when those versions are running. Additionally, some virtual memory space is also required.
Star Citizen often has several versions of the game running at once, sometimes 3 or 4. This means you ideally want 4 x 100 GB free for Star Citizen or more. 2TB+ is recommended.
Note to Laptop users
These specifications assume a desktop computer. For laptop devices you might need better specs for CPU, GPU and RAM.
You will need a gaming laptop that will give you more options in terms of performance settings as well as keyboard layout. Star Citizen requires a lot of keys!
Star Citizen Digital Game Package
The actual "game" you purchase to play Star Citizen is the Star Citizen Digital Download. The yellow rectangle in the image below shows what should be displayed to make sure you are buying access to the Star Citizen multiplayer universe game which includes access to the alpha.
Game packages can be found on the official Roberts Space Industries website in the Pledge Store.
Make sure you have a game package as there are also ships for sale that do not come with the game.
Do I need Squadron 42?
Squadron 42 is the single player game. While it is not required to play Star Citizen anyone thinking to fund at this stage should probably also consider backing Squadron 42. It's also worth noting that Squadron 42 should release commercially significantly earlier than Star Citizen. See our release date estimates.
Why is Squadron 42 Not For Sale?
Many laws have changed during Star Citizen's decade of development. One of those laws is that people can no longer sell unreleased products (hype and dreams). Squadron is not for sale until it is ready. Even though this law may not apply everywhere it applies in jurisdictions affecting Star Citizen. This is outside the scope of this website but it is important to mention since Squadron 42 is not for sale at this time anymore until it is finished.