Middle-earth: Shadow of War (Definitive Edition) needs an AMD FX-4350 or Intel Core i5-2300 CPU, an AMD HD 7870 2GB or NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB GPU, and 6GB of RAM at minimum, or an AMD FX-8350 or Intel Core i7-3770 with an AMD RX 480 4GB or NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB for the recommended tier. The Definitive Edition bundles the base game with all its story expansions, and it runs on the same engine and specs as the original 2017 release.
Here are the Middle-earth: Shadow of War System Requirements (Minimum)
- CPU: AMD FX-4350, 4.2 GHz or Intel Core i5-2300, 2.80 GHz
- RAM: 6 GB
- VIDEO CARD: AMD HD 7870, 2 GB or NVIDIA GTX 660, 2 GB
- DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB
- PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
- VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 with Platform Update
- FREE DISK SPACE: 70 GB
Middle-earth: Shadow of War Recommended Requirements
- CPU: AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz or Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz
- RAM: 12 GB
- VIDEO CARD: AMD RX 480, 4 GB or NVIDIA GTX 970, 4 GB
- DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 4096 MB
- PIXEL SHADER: 5.1
- VERTEX SHADER: 5.1
- OS: Windows 10 Creators Update
- FREE DISK SPACE: 70 GB
Minimum vs Recommended At a Glance
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | FX-4350 or i5-2300 | FX-8350 or i7-3770 |
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| GPU | HD 7870 2GB or GTX 660 2GB | RX 480 4GB or GTX 970 4GB |
| VRAM | 2048 MB | 4096 MB |
| Storage | 70 GB | 70 GB |
| OS | Windows 7 SP1 | Windows 10 Creators Update |
Can My PC Run Middle-earth: Shadow of War?
If your PC has at least an FX-4350 or i5-2300, 6GB of RAM, and an HD 7870 2GB or GTX 660 2GB, you clear the minimum bar for Shadow of War. That’s a fairly old spec at this point, so most gaming PCs from the last several years exceed it comfortably. To hit the recommended tier for smoother performance at higher settings, you’ll want closer to an FX-8350 or i7-3770 paired with an RX 480 4GB or GTX 970 4GB, along with double the RAM at 12GB. Both tiers ask for the same 70GB of free disk space, so storage requirements don’t change based on your performance target.
Who Middle-earth: Shadow of War Is For
Middle-earth: Shadow of War holds an 81 Metascore on PC, with critics widely praising the Nemesis System, which lets orc captains remember past encounters with you and grow or shrink in power based on how those fights went. It’s a strong fit for players who want a large-scale open-world action game built around commanding an army, personalized enemy rivalries, and Tolkien-inspired combat that blends Batman: Arkham-style fighting with Assassin’s Creed-style traversal. Fans of emergent, systems-driven storytelling tend to get the most out of the Nemesis mechanics specifically.
It’s a weaker fit if you’re sensitive to repetitive mission structure, since some reviewers and players have pointed to a formula of dominating captains and overthrowing fortresses that can feel repetitive over a long playthrough. The game also launched with microtransactions tied to its loot system, which drew criticism at release, though War of Vengeance content was later added for free and doesn’t require paying for meaningful progress.
Get Middle-earth: Shadow of War For Less
If you want to try before you commit to a full price purchase, check out our guide on how to get Middle-earth: Shadow of War (Definitive Edition) free for legitimate ways to play it at no cost or a steep discount.
More PC System Requirements Guides
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This is the last page in our Open-World Epics & Story-Driven Action cluster. Browse the full list above for every game we’ve covered so far.
FAQ
What are the system requirements for Middle-earth: Shadow of War? Middle-earth: Shadow of War needs an AMD FX-4350 or Intel Core i5-2300 CPU, an AMD HD 7870 2GB or NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB GPU, and 6GB of RAM at minimum. The recommended tier asks for an FX-8350 or i7-3770, an RX 480 4GB or GTX 970 4GB, and 12GB of RAM.
How much storage does Middle-earth: Shadow of War need? Middle-earth: Shadow of War requires 70GB of free disk space for both the minimum and recommended install.
Does Middle-earth: Shadow of War need 12GB of RAM? The minimum requirement is 6GB of RAM, but the recommended tier calls for 12GB to hit smoother performance at higher settings.
Is the Definitive Edition different from the base game in system requirements? No. The Definitive Edition runs on the same engine and specs as the original 2017 release. It bundles in all the story expansions rather than changing the technical requirements.
Is Middle-earth: Shadow of War worth playing today? Middle-earth: Shadow of War holds an 81 Metascore on PC, with critics specifically praising its Nemesis System for creating personalized rivalries with enemy captains that most other open-world games don’t offer.
