What does Elden Ring require to run? Elden Ring (2022) needs a GTX 1060/RX 580 minimum and a Core i5-8400 CPU — fairly light for an AAA title of its era. Elden Ring Nightreign (2026 roguelike spin-off) is even lighter — the recommended spec tops out at a GTX 1070, with no RTX card listed at all. This post covers full requirements for both titles and when you actually need an alternative.
Quick summary: the original Elden Ring runs on GTX 1060/RX 580 minimum, or GTX 1070 recommended. Nightreign 2026 requires even less — no RTX card appears anywhere in the official specs. A 5-6 year old gaming PC handles both fine. If your device has no dedicated GPU (MacBook, office laptop), Cloud PC is the only practical route — but note Elden Ring is fairly CPU-hungry, so Thinkmay's cheapest plan isn't the smoothest option for this title.
Original Elden Ring (2022) requirements
Official specs from FromSoftware/Bandai Namco, unchanged since launch.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core i5-8400 / Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-8700K / Ryzen 5 3600X |
| GPU | GTX 1060 3GB / RX 580 4GB | GTX 1070 8GB / RX Vega 56 |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 60GB SSD recommended | 60GB SSD recommended |
Source: official Steam system requirements, unchanged since 2022.
Elden Ring Nightreign 2026 requirements
Nightreign is a 3-player roguelike spin-off launched in 2026. Surprisingly, its CPU requirement is even higher than the original, yet no RTX card appears in the recommended spec — unusual for a modern AAA title.
Before Nightreign, the original Elden Ring got the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion (2024) — still part of the Elden Ring franchise, but a completely different product from Nightreign.
The photo below is Nightreign actually running on an iPhone via Thinkmay Cloud PC — even an older iPhone reaches the menu and plays normally, since all processing happens on the server, not the device.
- Higher CPU requirement than the original (roguelike mechanics + 3-player co-op)
- GPU stays at GTX 1060-1070 — no RTX card in the official spec
- Install size is half the original (30GB vs 60GB)
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core i5-10600 / Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i5-11500 / Ryzen 5 5600 |
| GPU | GTX 1060 / RX 580 | GTX 1070 / RX Vega 56 |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 30GB SSD | 30GB SSD |
Can your machine run Elden Ring?
Because requirements are fairly modest, most gaming PCs bought in the last 6-7 years handle both titles fine. The usual blocker isn't "too weak" but "no dedicated GPU at all" — office laptops, MacBooks, or work machines.
| Device type | Can it run Elden Ring? |
|---|---|
| Gaming PC 2018+ (GTX 1060+) | ✓ Runs both titles well |
| Gaming laptop with dedicated GPU | ✓ Runs well, FPS varies |
| Office laptop (no dedicated GPU) | ✗ Cannot run natively |
| MacBook (any generation) | ✗ No native macOS build |
| PC/laptop pre-2015 | ✗ CPU usually below minimum |
Playing Elden Ring on your phone via Thinkmay — real photos
These aren't mockups — they're actual screenshots from playing Elden Ring on a phone via Thinkmay. Virtual controls (LT/RT, A/B/X/Y, joystick) overlay the game screen automatically, no extra setup needed.
Because it's a full Windows desktop, your Steam library shows up untouched on your phone screen — Elden Ring sits right there in your installed games list, exactly like on a PC.
Below spec? Play Elden Ring via Cloud PC
If your device falls into the "can't run natively" group, you don't need a new PC. Cloud PC runs Elden Ring on a real RTX GPU in a datacenter — your device just streams the video through a browser.
Important caveat: Elden Ring is fairly CPU-heavy (lots of enemy AI, constant world streaming), so the experience depends on CPU more than most games. On the 29,000đ hourly plan (Xeon Platinum CPU), FPS can be quite low — not really smooth. The 699,000đ premium monthly plan uses a much stronger AMD EPYC Milan CPU — that's the plan that actually delivers a smooth experience, not the cheapest one.
| Plan | CPU / GPU | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly plan | Xeon Platinum / RTX 3060Ti | 3-hour session | 29,000đ — low FPS, trial only |
| Basic monthly | Xeon Platinum / RTX 3060Ti | 120 hours / 30 days | 349,000đ — still CPU-limited |
| Premium monthly | AMD EPYC Milan / RTX 5060Ti | Unlimited / 30 days | 699,000đ — recommended for Elden Ring |
If you just want to try the game for a few hours, the 29k plan is fine. But for regular play, go straight for the 699k plan to avoid CPU-bound stutter.
What spec do I need to run Elden Ring at 60fps?
A GTX 1070 or better hits 60fps at 1080p medium-high settings. That's the official recommended spec — you only need more for 1440p/4K.
Is Elden Ring Nightreign heavier than the original?
GPU-wise they're equivalent, but Nightreign asks for a slightly stronger CPU due to its roguelike mechanics and 3-player co-op. Install size is much smaller though (30GB vs 60GB).
Can a MacBook run Elden Ring?
Not natively — Elden Ring has no macOS build and doesn't run well through Boot Camp (discontinued on Apple Silicon). Cloud PC is the only way to play it on a MacBook.
Can a PC without a dedicated GPU run Elden Ring?
No. Elden Ring requires a minimum dedicated GPU of GTX 1060/RX 580 — integrated graphics (Intel Iris, integrated AMD Vega) aren't powerful enough.
Is playing Elden Ring via Cloud PC expensive?
Thinkmay has an hourly plan from 29,000đ/3h — enough to try it out for a few hours. For regular play, the 699,000đ premium monthly plan (stronger AMD EPYC CPU, unlimited hours) costs far less than buying a new PC and delivers a noticeably smoother experience than the cheap plan.
Does Elden Ring's anti-cheat block Cloud PC/virtual machines?
No. Elden Ring uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), but unlike high-competition esports titles (Valorant, LOL), it doesn't block virtual machines — it runs normally on Cloud PC.
Which Cloud PC plan runs Elden Ring smoothest?
The 699,000đ premium monthly plan (AMD EPYC Milan CPU + RTX 5060Ti). Elden Ring is fairly CPU-hungry, so the 29,000đ hourly plan or the 349,000đ basic monthly plan (both on Xeon Platinum CPU) may deliver lower FPS than expected. For regular play, go straight for the 699k plan.
Related reading
Conclusion
Both Elden Ring and Nightreign have fairly forgiving requirements compared to modern AAA titles — a GTX 1060-1070 is enough. If your device has no dedicated GPU (MacBook, office laptop) or is too old, Thinkmay's Cloud PC is the answer without buying a new PC — but since Elden Ring is fairly CPU-hungry, pick the 699k plan (AMD EPYC Milan CPU) instead of the cheapest one for a genuinely smooth experience.