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Resident Evil 3: The System Requirements Needed to Contain the Zombie Outbreak

Capcom's exquisite work updating Resident Evil 2 for contemporary times has people excited for Resident Evil 3's potential. Here's what you'll need to play on PC when it arrives on April 3.

Jeffrey L. Wilson
 & Jeffrey L. Wilson Managing Editor, Apps and Gaming

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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With a confirmed April 3 release date, Resident Evil 3 (AKA Resident Evil Remake or Resident Evil 3 2020) is just a short time away. On that day, Resident Evil 3 will be available on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms, but if you're reading this article, you're here for information regarding the PC game. Let's dive into it.

Why the Resident Evil 3 Hype?


The Resident Evil 3 Remake These creeps are the reason why Jill Valentine tries to flee Raccoon City.

The massive pre-release buzz surrounding Resident Evil 3 exists for two very distinct reasons. The first being that the original Resident Evil 3, released for PlayStation in 1999, is a beloved zombie-shooting title. It's a classic that inspires many warm (yet frightening) nostalgic memories. The second reason? Capcom's exquisite work updating  Resident Evil 2 for contemporary times has people excited for Resident Evil 3's potential.

Plus, Resident Evil 3 includes a bonus game mode: Resident Evil Resistance. According to Capcom, Resident Evil Resistance is a "1 vs. 4 online multiplayer game set in the Resident Evil universe where four survivors face off against a sinister Mastermind."

Where to Buy Resident Evil 3 on PC

On PC, Resident Evil 3 will be available for digital purchase from Steam; so far, Valve's video game marketplace is the lone store carrying it. Only time will tell if the game makes the jump to the Epic Game Store, Google Stadia, or Xbox.

Resident Evil 3's Specs

If you intend to play Resident Evil 3 on a gaming desktop or gaming laptop, these are the operating systems and components you'll need to run the shooter.

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Minimum Specs

  • OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 8.1, or 10
  • CPU: 64-bit AMD FX-6300 or Intel Core i5-4460
  • GPU: AMD Radeon R7 260x or Nvidia Geforce GTX 760
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: N/A

Recommended Specs

Capcom hasn't released Resident Evil 3's recommended specs yet. We'll update this article that information becomes available.

  • OS: N/A
  • CPU: N/A
  • GPU: N/A
  • RAM: N/A
  • Storage: N/A

Resident Evil Resistance Resident Evil Resistance is Resident Evil 3's multiplayer component.

Resident Evil 3's Input Support

Capcom hasn't revealed Resident Evil 3's potential control schemes, but it's a safe bet that it'll be compatible with console controllers, much like Resident Evil 2. There's no word yet on possible mouse and keyboard support.

Resident Evil 3's DRM Scheme

Capcom has implemented anti-piracy restrictions with Resident Evil 3. The game incorporates third-party Denuvo Anti-tamper DRM, software that has proved troublesome in the past. In addition, there's a five-different-PC-per-day activation limit.

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About Our Expert

Jeffrey L. Wilson

Jeffrey L. Wilson

Managing Editor, Apps and Gaming

Since 2004, I've written about consumer tech for many publications, including 1UP, Laptop, Parenting, Sync, Wise Bread, and WWE. I now apply that knowledge and skill set as the managing editor of PCMag's apps and gaming team.

The Technology I Use

As a member of the App & Gaming team, I use a wide variety of apps and services. Google Drive is an essential file-syncing service for moving documents between team members in this work-from-home era. Scrivener has been an invaluable writing tool as I rework my fiction manuscript. YouTube Premium and YouTube TV deliver hours of entertainment (though I only use the latter service during the F1 and NBA playoff seasons).

In terms of hardware, I use a Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X1 laptop for work and an Origin PC tower for playing PC games. I also have a Steam Deck, which lets me play my favorite titles under a shade tree. Of course, I have a smartphone, and the Google Pixel 9a is my handset of choice.

My main input devices are the Das Keyboard 4 Professional and Logitech MX Vertical Ergonomic Mouse, though I bust out the Hori Fighting Commander Octa or Hori Fight Stick Alpha when mixing it up in fighting games. I have a thing for arcade sticks. I collect Neo Geo AES games, too, but only if I can find the carts on the (relative) cheap.

For video and music consumption, I fire up my Lenovo Tab P11; it has a sharp screen and great Dolby Atmos-powered speakers. My Kindle Paperwhite has received much use, too. I have a standalone, Sony Blu-ray player connected to a TCL television when it's time to go full cinephile. I'm also a vinyl guy, so the Bluetooth-enabled Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT keeps the wax spinning.

My first computer was a Commodore 64. Long live BASIC and retro computers!

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