Hitman: Absolution needs a true dual core CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and a GeForce 8600 or Radeon HD 4650 to run at minimum settings. For the recommended experience, IO Interactive’s stealth-action title asks for an Intel Core i7 or AMD Athlon II X4, 4 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 260 or Radeon HD 5770. These are the Hitman: Absolution system requirements players need before Agent 47’s most personal contract yet.
Here are the Hitman: Absolution System Requirements (Minimum)
- CPU: True dual core CPU (Intel or AMD)
- RAM: 2 GB
- Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 8600 (512 MB) or AMD equivalent (Radeon HD 4650)
- Dedicated Video RAM: 512 MB
- Pixel Shader: 4.0
- Vertex Shader: 4.0
- OS: Windows Vista or 7
- Sound Card: Required
Hitman: Absolution Recommended Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i7 or AMD Athlon II X4
- RAM: 4 GB
- Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or ATI Radeon HD 5770
- DirectX: Version 11
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Our primary source listed a Minimum tier but described the Recommended tier only in prose rather than a separate spec block. We cross-checked this against the game’s official Steam store listing to confirm the Recommended figures above are accurate rather than pieced together from a vague description.
Minimum vs Recommended At a Glance
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
| CPU | True dual core (Intel/AMD) | Intel Core i7 / AMD Athlon II X4 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Video Card | GeForce 8600 / Radeon HD 4650 | GeForce GTX 260 / Radeon HD 5770 |
| Video RAM | 512 MB | Not specified |
| DirectX | 10 | 11 |
| OS | Windows Vista / 7 | Windows 7 64-bit |
Can My PC Run Hitman: Absolution?
Hitman: Absolution is one of the least demanding games in this cluster, reflecting its 2012 release. The minimum tier accepts almost any dual core CPU and a graphics card as old as the GeForce 8600, hardware that predates most PCs still in use today by a wide margin. The recommended tier is a modest step up rather than a steep one, mainly asking for DirectX 11 support and roughly double the RAM. Players on modern hardware will clear both tiers without any concern, and even older laptops with integrated graphics have been reported running the game at low settings.
Who Hitman: Absolution Is For
Hitman: Absolution holds a Metascore of 79 on Metacritic with a 7.3 user score, a “generally favorable” reception that undersells how divisive the game actually is among longtime series fans. On Steam, it holds a much stronger 93% positive rating from over 40,000 reviews, since general audiences responded well to its cinematic presentation, refined controls, and stronger narrative focus on Agent 47’s betrayal by the Agency. It suits players who want a more story-driven, linear stealth-action experience, or newcomers without strong attachment to the series’ earlier sandbox format.
Longtime Hitman fans have been more critical, since Absolution trades the series’ large, open sandbox levels for smaller, more scripted environments closer to a corridor shooter with stealth elements. Players who specifically want the classic Hitman formula of expansive levels and freeform target elimination may prefer the 2016 Hitman reboot or the World of Assassination trilogy instead, while those open to a more narrative-heavy detour will likely find Absolution enjoyable on its own terms.
Get Hitman: Absolution For Less
Before buying at full price, check our guide on How To Get Hitman: Absolution Free for legitimate ways to pick up the game at a lower cost.
More PC System Requirements Guides
Start with our central guide: Valheim System Requirements, our site wide hub covering PC specs across every genre we track.
This page is also part of our Narrative and Story-Driven Adventures cluster. Cluster hub: The Last of Us Part I System Requirements (cluster hub). Other pages in this cluster:
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered System Requirements
- Death Stranding 2 System Requirements
- Detroit: Become Human System Requirements
- Mafia: Trilogy System Requirements
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 System Requirements
- Date Everything! System Requirements
- Monster Hunter Stories 3 System Requirements
This cluster is now complete. Browse the full list above for every game we’ve covered in Narrative and Story-Driven Adventures.
FAQ
What are the Hitman: Absolution system requirements?
Hitman: Absolution needs a true dual core CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and a GeForce 8600 or Radeon HD 4650 at minimum, or an Intel Core i7 or AMD Athlon II X4, 4 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 260 or Radeon HD 5770 for the recommended experience.
Can Hitman: Absolution run on an old PC?
Yes, the minimum requirements are very light by modern standards, and the game runs on hardware dating back to around 2008.
Is Hitman: Absolution different from other Hitman games?
Yes, it uses smaller, more scripted levels and a stronger story focus compared to the larger sandbox levels of earlier and later entries in the series, which is the main source of its divided reception among longtime fans.
What is Hitman: Absolution’s Metacritic score?
Hitman: Absolution holds a Metascore of 79 and a 7.3 user score on Metacritic, alongside a stronger 93% positive rating on Steam.
Does Hitman: Absolution support online Contracts mode?
The game originally included a Contracts mode for creating and sharing custom missions, though some player reports note the online servers for this feature have since been taken offline.
