The Elder Scrolls Online
PC requirements, performance and Steam Deck status
- Recommended
- GeForce GTX 970
- 60 fps 1080p high
- GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (~70 fps, est.)
- Steam Deck
- Steam Deck Verified · ~45 fps ultra (est.)
- Genres
- Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG
- Release
- May 22, 2017
- Developer
- ZeniMax Online Studios
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Join millions of players in an online, fantasy RPG set in a vast living Elder Scrolls world.
RPGMMORPGOpen WorldFantasyAdventureMultiplayerExplorationSingleplayerMassively MultiplayerAction
View on Steam →Will The Elder Scrolls Online run on your PC?
What you need for The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online needs about a GeForce RTX 3050 6GB for 60 fps at 1080p high and a Radeon RX 9050 4GB 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 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB | Core i3-9100F |
| 1080p · 144 fps · Medium | Radeon RX 6600 | Core i3-9100F |
| 1440p · 60 fps · High | Radeon RX 9050 4GB | Core i3-9100F |
| 1440p · 120 fps · High | GeForce RTX 5060 | Core i3-9100F |
| 4K · 60 fps · High | Radeon RX 6700 | Core i3-9100F |
Slowest current desktop parts (2020+ GPUs, 2019+ CPUs) our model expects to reach each target. Best GPUs for The Elder Scrolls Online →
Estimated FPS on popular graphics cards (high preset)
| Graphics card | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 48 | 34 | 20 |
| GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | 67 | 47 | 28 |
| GeForce RTX 2060 6GB | 101 | 71 | 42 |
| Radeon RX 6600 | 110 | 77 | 46 |
| GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 120 | 84 | 50 |
| GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU | 125 | 87 | 52 |
| Radeon RX 7600 | 139 | 97 | 58 |
| GeForce RTX 4060 | 142 | 99 | 59 |
| GeForce RTX 3070 | 166 | 116 | 70 |
| GeForce RTX 4070 | 209 | 146 | 88 |
| Radeon RX 7800 XT | 233 | 163 | 98 |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 240 | 168 | 101 |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | 300+ | 218 | 131 |
| GeForce RTX 4080 | 300+ | 227 | 136 |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 300+ | 300+ | 217 |
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.
The Elder Scrolls Online system requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i5 2300 or AMD FX4350 No specific model named. Estimated from the legacy requirement. | Intel® Core™ i5 2300 or AMD FX4350 No specific model named. Estimated from the legacy requirement. |
| Graphics | Direct X 11.0 compliant video card with 1GB RAM (NVIDIA® GeForce® 560 or AMD Radeon™ 6870) No specific model named. Estimated from the video memory requirement. | Direct X 11.0 compliant video card with 4GB of RAM (NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 970 or AMD Radeon™ RX 570) or higher |
| Memory | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Video memory | 1 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 150 GB | 150 GB |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
Source: Steam.
The Elder Scrolls Online on handheld PCs
Valve rating: Steam Deck Verified
Steam Deck · verified
- ✓Default controller configuration fully functional
- ✓Controller glyphs match Steam Deck device
- ✓Interface text is legible
- ✓Default configuration is performant
- ✗External controllers not supported primary player
Steam Machine · verified
- ✓Default controller configuration fully functional
- ✓Controller glyphs match device
- ✓Default configuration is performant
SteamOS · playable
- !Game startup functional
- ✗External controllers not supported primary player
| Handheld | Native resolution | Estimated FPS | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck OLED | 1280×800 | 45 ultra | Steam Deck Verified |
| ROG Ally X | 1920×1080 | 36 ultra | Steam Deck Verified · faster GPU |
| ROG Xbox Ally X | 1920×1080 | 42 ultra | Steam Deck Verified · faster GPU |
| Legion Go 2 | 1920×1200 | 37 ultra | Steam Deck Verified · faster GPU |
| MSI Claw 8 AI+ | 1920×1200 | 37 ultra | Steam Deck Verified · 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
- 6
- Metacritic
- 80
- Engine
- HeroEngine
- Features
- Multi-playerMMOPvPOnline PvPCo-opOnline Co-opSteam Trading CardsCaptions availableIn-App PurchasesCamera ComfortChat Text-to-speechCustom Volume ControlsPlayable without Timed InputStereo SoundSurround SoundPartial Controller SupportHDR availableFamily Sharing
- Languages (7)
- English, French, German, Russian, Spanish - Spain, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
Full audio: English, French, German, Japanese
Latest news & patches
- New Event Ahoy! Previewing the High Seas of Tamriel2026-09-23
- Uncover Tamriel’s Mysteries with the Rumors System2026-09-18
- Prepare for the Perplexing Puzzles of the Nowhere Vault2026-09-17
- An Update on the Warden and Class RefreshPatch2026-09-01
- Golden Pursuits—Straight to the Crate2026-08-21
- Get More Out of Tamriel with the ESO Plus Free Trial2026-08-20
Official announcements via Steam.
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FAQ
Can The Elder Scrolls Online run on a GTX 1650?
Yes, at lower settings. The GeForce GTX 1650 meets The Elder Scrolls Online's minimum spec but not the recommended one. We estimate ~48 fps at 1080p high (range 38–58, medium confidence, ±20%), GPU-limited. For 60 fps at 1080p, use the medium preset. Its 4 GB of video memory covers the 4 GB the game recommends. The cheapest current card for 60 fps at 1080p high is the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (~70 fps). Every preset on the GTX 1650.
Can The Elder Scrolls Online run on Steam Deck?
Yes. Valve rates The Elder Scrolls Online Steam Deck Verified. At the Steam Deck OLED's native 1280×800 we estimate ~45 fps on the ultra preset (range 36–54, medium confidence, ±20%). 60 fps is reachable on the medium preset. Presets for 30/40/60 fps on Steam Deck OLED.
What graphics card do I need for The Elder Scrolls Online at 1440p?
For 60 fps at 1440p high, our model points to a Radeon RX 9050 4GB or faster: ~60 fps (range 48–73, medium confidence, ±20%). At 1080p high a GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is enough. 4K at 60 fps needs a Radeon RX 6700. All are the slowest current desktop cards per target. Best GPUs for The Elder Scrolls Online by brand.
Can I run The Elder Scrolls Online on a laptop?
Yes, with a fast enough GPU. Of the 30 laptop GPUs we list, the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU is the slowest expected to reach 60 fps at 1080p high: ~62 fps (range 50–75, medium confidence, ±20%). The slowest one that meets the minimum spec, the GeForce GTX 1650 Laptop GPU, gets ~65 fps at 1080p low. The Elder Scrolls Online on the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU.
How much RAM does The Elder Scrolls Online need?
The publisher's Steam listing asks for 4 GB of RAM minimum and 8 GB recommended for The Elder Scrolls Online. For the graphics card it lists video memory of 1 GB at minimum and 4 GB recommended.
How much storage does The Elder Scrolls Online take?
The Elder Scrolls Online needs 150 GB of free storage according to the publisher's recommended spec on Steam. The minimum operating system is Windows 10 64-bit.