Foundation
PC requirements, performance and Steam Deck status
- Minimum
- GeForce GTX 960 · Core i5-4460
- Recommended
- GeForce RTX 2060 6GB · Core i7-6700K
- 60 fps 1080p high
- Radeon RX 5600 XT (~61 fps, est.)
- Steam Deck
- Steam Deck Playable · ~33 fps high (est.)
- Genres
- Indie, Simulation, Strategy
- Release
- Jan 31, 2025
- Developer
- Polymorph Games
- Publisher
- Polymorph Games
Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.
City BuilderSimulationMedievalStrategySandboxManagementResource ManagementBuildingRelaxingEconomy
View on Steam →Will Foundation run on your PC?
What you need for Foundation
Foundation needs about a Radeon RX 5600 XT for 60 fps at 1080p high and a Radeon RX 6700 at 1440p (pcgaming.io estimate, medium confidence, ±20%, model v0, data updated 2026-09-24).
| Target | Graphics card (at least) | Processor (at least) |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p · 60 fps · High | Radeon RX 5600 XT | Core i3-9100F |
| 1080p · 144 fps · Medium | Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | Core i7-11700K |
| 1440p · 60 fps · High | Radeon RX 6700 | Core i3-9100F |
| 1440p · 120 fps · High | Radeon RX 7900 XT | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| 4K · 60 fps · High | GeForce RTX 5070 | Core i3-9100F |
Slowest current desktop parts (2020+ GPUs, 2019+ CPUs) our model expects to reach each target. Best GPUs for Foundation →
Estimated FPS on popular graphics cards (high preset)
| Graphics card | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 29 | 20 | 12 |
| GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | 40 | 28 | 17 |
| GeForce RTX 2060 6GB | 60 | 42 | 25 |
| Radeon RX 6600 | 66 | 46 | 28 |
| GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 71 | 50 | 30 |
| GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU | 74 | 52 | 31 |
| Radeon RX 7600 | 83 | 58 | 35 |
| GeForce RTX 4060 | 84 | 59 | 35 |
| GeForce RTX 3070 | 99 | 69 | 41 |
| GeForce RTX 4070 | 124 | 87 | 52 |
| Radeon RX 7800 XT | 139 | 97 | 58 |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 143 | 100 | 60 |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | 186 | 130 | 78 |
| GeForce RTX 4080 | 193 | 135 | 81 |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 300+ | 215 | 129 |
Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+. Data updated 2026-09-24.
Foundation system requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4460 | Intel Core i7-6700K |
| Graphics | GTX 960 / R9 290 - 3 GB Video Memory | RTX 2060 |
| Memory | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Video memory | 3 GB | — |
| Notes | OpenGL 4.3 | — |
Source: Steam.
Foundation on handheld PCs
Valve rating: Steam Deck Playable
Steam Deck · playable
- !Default controller configuration not fully functional
- !Controller glyphs do not match Steam Deck device
- !Text input does not automatically invokes keyboard
- ✓Interface text is legible
- ✓Default configuration is performant
- ✗External controllers not supported primary player
Steam Machine · playable
- !Default controller configuration not fully functional
- !Controller glyphs do not match device
- !Text input does not automatically invokes keyboard
- ✓Default configuration is performant
SteamOS · playable
- !Game startup functional
- ✗Default controller configuration not fully functional
- ✗Text input does not automatically invokes keyboard
- ✗External controllers not supported primary player
| Handheld | Native resolution | Estimated FPS | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck OLED | 1280×800 | 33 high | Steam Deck Playable |
| ROG Ally X | 1920×1080 | 35 medium | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
| ROG Xbox Ally X | 1920×1080 | 31 high | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
| Legion Go 2 | 1920×1200 | 37 medium | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
| MSI Claw 8 AI+ | 1920×1200 | 37 medium | Steam Deck Playable · faster GPU |
Each handheld at its own screen resolution, on the best preset that holds 30 fps. Steam Deck verdicts are Valve's rating.
Details
- Controller support
- Keyboard & mouse
- DLC
- 3
- Steam achievements
- 45
- Metacritic
- 84
- Features
- Single-playerSteam AchievementsSteam CloudFamily Sharing
- Languages (17)
- English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Russian, Portuguese - Brazil, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Czech, Thai, Ukrainian
Latest news & patches
- Foundation: Harvest Festival DLC Arrives October 8!2026-09-14
- Foundation: Harvest Festival — Reveal Trailer Now Live!2026-08-14
- Hotfix 1.11.0.19 is livePatch2026-07-28
- Patch 1.11.0.18 is now livePatch2026-07-08
- Devlog #21 - Refining the Experience2026-05-15
- Patch 1.11.0.17 is livePatch2026-04-15
Official announcements via Steam.
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FAQ
Can Foundation run on a GTX 1650?
Yes, at lower settings. The GeForce GTX 1650 meets Foundation's minimum spec but not the recommended one. We estimate ~37 fps at 1080p medium (range 30–45, medium confidence, ±20%), GPU-limited. 60 fps at 1080p is out of reach. Its 4 GB of video memory covers the 3 GB the game requires at minimum. The cheapest current card for 60 fps at 1080p high is the Radeon RX 5600 XT (~61 fps). Every preset on the GTX 1650.
Can Foundation run on Steam Deck?
Yes, with issues. Valve rates Foundation Steam Deck Playable. At the Steam Deck OLED's native 1280×800 we estimate ~33 fps on the high preset (range 26–39, medium confidence, ±20%). Our spec-based model is conservative for games tuned for Steam Deck; Valve's test result comes first. 60 fps is out of reach; 40 fps works on medium. Presets for 30/40/60 fps on Steam Deck OLED.
What graphics card do I need for Foundation at 1440p?
For 60 fps at 1440p high, our model points to a Radeon RX 6700 or faster: ~60 fps (range 48–72, medium confidence, ±20%). At 1080p high a Radeon RX 5600 XT is enough. 4K at 60 fps needs a GeForce RTX 5070. All are the slowest current desktop cards per target. Best GPUs for Foundation by brand.
Can I run Foundation on a laptop?
Yes, with a fast enough GPU. Of the 30 laptop GPUs we list, the GeForce RTX 2070 Laptop GPU is the slowest expected to reach 60 fps at 1080p high: ~60 fps (range 48–72, medium confidence, ±20%). The slowest one that meets the minimum spec, the GeForce GTX 1650 Laptop GPU, gets ~39 fps at 1080p low. Foundation on the GeForce RTX 2070 Laptop GPU.
How much RAM does Foundation need?
The publisher's Steam listing asks for 8 GB of RAM minimum and 16 GB recommended for Foundation. For the graphics card it lists video memory of 3 GB at minimum.