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Can Your PC Run Dead Space?

Electronic Arts revisits its original outer space nightmare when the Dead Space remake launches Jan 27. Prepare your PC for these new scares.

 & Jordan Minor Principal Writer, Software

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When Dead Space first arrived in 2008, it proved that publisher Electronic Arts (EA) was capable of exciting new franchises, not just endless sports games and shuttered studios. The series went on a hiatus after finishing its initial trilogy, but EA is resurrecting Dead Space (read our review!) for a new generation. See if your PC can handle this remade terror.


Why the Dead Space Hype?

The original Dead Space is a good game, and it looks even better in hindsight. The first game took some obvious inspiration from Resident Evil 4’s methodical third-person shooter and horror innovations, but the sci-fi setting and mythology led to interesting new ideas like zero-gravity sequences and space Scientology. 

Similar to Resident Evil, later Dead Space games doubled down on dumb action that diluted the core formula. Fortunately, this Dead Space remake return to its roots, just like the excellent Resident Evil remakes. Hopefully this ends up more enjoyable than the recent Dead Space spiritual successor The Callisto Protocol. The original development team, Visceral Games, no longer exists, but Motive Studio picks up the slack for this remake. Motive's work on the new Star Wars Battlefront reboot reveals that the studio can craft stunning sci-fi video game worlds.


Dead Space

Where Can I Buy Dead Space?

On PC, you can buy Dead Space via Epic Games Store or Steam for $59.99 starting Jan. 27. The $69.99 deluxe edition includes exclusive costumes. Dead Space is also available on next-generation consoles: the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.


What Are the Dead Space Minimum System Requirements?

  • OS: Windows 10
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8600
  • Memory: 16GB of RAM
  • GPU: AMD RX 5700 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Available Storage: 50GB

What Are the Dead Space Recommended System Requirements?

  • OS: Windows 10
  • CPUCPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-11600K
  • MemoryMemory: 16GB of RAM
  • GPUGPU: Radeon RX 6700 XT or Nvidia GeForce GTX 2070
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Available Storage: 50GB

Dead Space

How Can You Play Dead Space?

To fend off Dead Space’s rotting Necromorph zombie space monsters, you need to strategically shoot their limbs with mining equipment. Fortunately, you can do that with a controller or a keyboard-and-mouse combination. Dead Space currently lacks Steam Deck compatibility. 


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About Our Expert

Jordan Minor

Jordan Minor

Principal Writer, Software

My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977, and the reason everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.

The Technology I Use

I use the newest Android and iOS smartphones for testing, but I currently use an iPhone 14 as my personal phone. I just hate that we gave up headphone jacks.

I've always favored gaming laptops over desktops. On that note, I have a 16-inch HP Envy with an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. No matter what machine I’m working on, an alarming amount of my personal and professional life revolves around cloud-synced Google Drive files.

For food subscriptions, my household sticks with CookUnity and HelloFresh for meals. Video streaming is a bit more complicated. While there are too many services to list, we're subscribed to most of the major ones. These days, I find myself drawn to HBO Max's movies and shows, as well as Peacock's reality trash.

I've been a lifelong Nintendo fan, and I sincerely believe the Nintendo Switch will go down as one of the best gaming consoles of all time. It has an unbelievable library of new and old games from Nintendo and third-party companies. The handheld/console hybrid approach makes playing games so much more flexible, a legacy that continues with the Nintendo Switch 2 and Valve’s Steam Deck.

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