PC requirements
BioShock System Requirements
BioShock needs at least Intel single-core Pentium 4 processor at 2.4GHz, 1 GB of RAM and Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 128MB RAM and Pixel Shader 3.0 (NVIDIA 6600 or better/ATI X1300 or better, excluding ATI X1550) graphics. For the recommended experience you want 2GB of RAM and DX 9 - Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB RAM and Pixel Shader 3.0 (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better), DX 10 - NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better graphics.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel single-core Pentium 4 processor at 2.4GHz | — |
| Memory | 1 GB | 2GB |
| Graphics | Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 128MB RAM and Pixel Shader 3.0 (NVIDIA 6600 or better/ATI X1300 or better, excluding ATI X1550) | DX 9 - Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB RAM and Pixel Shader 3.0 (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better), DX 10 - NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better |
| Additional notes | 100% direct X 9.0c compatible sound card | SoundBlaster(r) X-Fi(tm) series (optimized foruse with Creative Labs EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0 or EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 compatible sound cards) |
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Playing on a handheld instead? Players report
BioShock as
Gold on
Steam Deck and Linux.
Other platforms
BioShock is also available on these systems, where hardware is fixed and no per-PC check is needed:
Quick answers
Running BioShock on PC
Can my PC run BioShock?
Compare your CPU, GPU and RAM against the minimum column below. If your parts match or beat every minimum row, the game will launch — though you may need to lower settings. Matching the recommended column is what gets you 60fps at 1080p.
How much storage does BioShock need?
Storage requirements are not published for this title yet.
What is the difference between minimum and recommended specs?
Minimum means the game starts and is playable, usually at 30fps on low settings at 1080p. Recommended is the developer's target for a smooth 60fps experience at high settings.