GTA 6 System Requirements: The Elite 2026 PC Specs Guide (Predicted)

Let’s be real: we have all been waiting for this game for over a decade. But now that Grand Theft Auto VI is finally on the horizon, a scary question is starting to pop up in PC gaming forums everywhere: “Can my rig actually run this?“

Rockstar Games pushes the limits. They did it with GTA V on the PS3, they did it with Red Dead Redemption 2 (which brought high-end PCs to their knees), and they are absolutely going to do it again with the GTA 6 system requirements.

The new RAGE 9 engine isn’t just about pretty sunsets; it is about complex water physics, dense crowds, and real-time global illumination.

If you are sitting on a GPU from 2020, you might need to start sweating (or saving). In this ultimate guide, I will break down the predicted GTA 6 system requirements including Minimum, Recommended, and Ultra 4K specs.

Quick Look: Predicted Specs Table

If you just want the numbers, here is our forecasted breakdown based on current hardware benchmarks.

Performance Target	Resolution / FPS	CPU (Processor)	GPU (Graphics Card)	RAM
Minimum	1080p / 30 FPS (Low)	Intel Core i7-8700K / Ryzen 5 3600	NVIDIA RTX 2070 / AMD RX 5700 XT	16 GB
Recommended	1440p / 60 FPS (High)	Intel Core i7-12700K / Ryzen 7 5800X	NVIDIA RTX 4070 / AMD RX 7800 XT	32 GB
Ultra 4K	4K / 60 FPS (Ray Tracing)	Intel Core i9-14900K / Ryzen 7 7800X3D	NVIDIA RTX 4090 / RTX 5080	64 GB

All tiers require at least 150GB of SSD Storage.

Hitting these 4K specs is pointless if your screen can’t display the details. If you are building an ‘Ultra’ tier rig, you need a display that handles RAGE 9’s HDR correctly. Check out our ranked list of the Best Monitors for GTA 6 to see which OLEDs we recommend for 2026.

The “RAGE 9” Engine: Why GTA 6 System Requirements Are High

To understand the specs, you have to understand the engine. GTA 6 runs on a heavily upgraded version of the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE 9).

Based on the leaks and the incredible physics seen in the Trailer 1 footage, this engine is doing three things that will tax your PC heavily:

• Density Simulation: The number of NPCs (people), cars, and distinct animations on screen at once is massive. This pushes GTA 6 system requirements heavily toward high-end CPUs.
• Global Illumination: Lighting that bounces realistically off wet pavement and car hoods in real-time. This eats GPU power for breakfast.
• Water Physics: The ocean simulations in Vice City are likely the most complex ever seen in gaming.

Deep Dive: The Graphics Card (GPU) Requirement

In 2026, raw power isn’t the only thing that matters. VRAM (Video Memory) is the new king of GTA 6 system requirements.

The VRAM Problem

Modern open-world titles with high-resolution textures are hungry for memory. If your card only has 8GB of VRAM (like the RTX 3070 or older cards), you might struggle to run textures on “High” without severe stuttering.

• My Advice: If you are buying a new GPU for GTA 6, aim for 12GB of VRAM minimum.
• Ray Tracing: If you want to see every neon reflection in the puddles of Vice City, you need an NVIDIA card. We expect GTA 6 to rely heavily on DLSS 3.5 (Frame Generation) to keep frame rates smooth.

Recommendation: The RTX 4070 Super is currently the “sweet spot” value card that meets the recommended GTA 6 system requirements.

The “People’s Card” Test: Can the RTX 4060 Run GTA 6?

This is the most common question we get. The NVIDIA RTX 4060 (8GB) is the most popular card on Steam, but will it survive Vice City?

• The Verdict: Yes, but with compromises.
• Resolution: 1080p.
• Settings: Medium/High Mix.
• The Bottleneck: The 8GB VRAM limit is dangerous for the RAGE 9 engine. You will likely need to turn Texture Quality down to “Medium” to avoid stuttering, even if the chip is fast enough for high FPS.
• DLSS is Key: You must use DLSS 3 Frame Generation to hit a stable 60 FPS on this card.

(Trying to decide between console and PC? Read our comparison: PS5 Pro vs PC for GTA 6: The Brutal Verdict)

Deep Dive: The Processor (CPU) Requirement

Many gamers overlook the CPU, thinking the graphics card does all the work. In open-world games like GTA, that is a fatal mistake.

GTA 6 system requirements will be “CPU Bound.” Every pedestrian walking down the street, every car changing lanes, and every police AI reaction is calculated by your processor. If your CPU is too weak, it doesn’t matter if you have an RTX 4090—your game will lag in busy city centers.

• Core Count: I recommend a minimum of 8 Cores. Quad-core CPUs (4 cores) are effectively dead for AAA gaming in 2026.
• The X3D Advantage: If you are building a PC specifically for this game, AMD’s “X3D” chips (like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D) are the gold standard. Their massive L3 cache is perfect for handling the chaos of a Rockstar open world.

The Storage Mandate: HDD vs. SSD

This is non-negotiable. Do not try to run GTA 6 on an old Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

The game uses “asset streaming” to load the world as you move through it. An HDD simply cannot read data fast enough to keep up with a supercar driving at 200mph down the highway. If you ignore the GTA 6 system requirements for storage, you will experience:

• Textures popping in late (buildings looking like melted clay).
• The road disappearing beneath your wheels.
• Massive freezing while the game catches up.

Requirement: You need an NVMe M.2 SSD. Standard SATA SSDs will work, but NVMe (Gen 4) is preferred for the PS5-like instant loading times.

Can My Laptop Run GTA 6?

Gaming laptops are incredibly popular, but they suffer from thermal throttling. It is important to remember that a “Laptop RTX 4060” is roughly 15-20% weaker than a “Desktop RTX 4060.”

If you plan to play on a laptop, here are the realistic GTA 6 system requirements for mobile users:

1. Cooling: You need a laptop with excellent airflow. GTA 6 will heat your machine up quickly.
2. Power: Look for a laptop with an RTX 4070 Mobile or higher.
3. RAM: Most laptops come with 16GB. I strongly suggest upgrading to 32GB to give the game breathing room.

Looking for a machine that hits these benchmarks? Read our guide on the Best Gaming Laptop for GTA 6.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Will GTA 6 be locked to 60 FPS on PC? No. Unlike the console versions which might be capped, the PC version will have an unlocked framerate. However, achieving 144+ FPS in a dense open world will require top-tier hardware that exceeds the recommended GTA 6 system requirements.

• Does GTA 6 support DLSS and FSR? While not officially confirmed by Rockstar, it is almost guaranteed. Every modern AAA game utilizes upscaling tech. We expect support for DLSS 3.5 (Frame Gen) and FSR 3.0 at launch.

• Can I run it on Windows 10? Likely yes, but Windows 11 offers better optimization for “DirectStorage” (faster loading) and HDR. I recommend upgrading to Windows 11 before release.

(For official news, always check the Rockstar Games Newswire.)

Final Verdict: Should You Upgrade Now?

If you are sitting on a system built before 2020, the answer is likely yes. GTA 6 system requirements will represent the benchmark for the next 5-7 years of gaming.

However, you don’t need to rush. Hardware prices drop over time.

• The Smart Move: Start saving now. Go for the NVIDIA RTX 50 series. Even if you don’t buy the newest card, its release has pushed down the prices of the RTX 40 series.

Wondering if your rig is ready? Run our Free FPS Checker tool.