Short answer: according to the Steam page (checked on October 22, 2026, already with version 0.40), the minimum requirements for BeamNG.drive are 64-bit Windows 10, an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400 processor, 16 GB of RAM, a graphics card with 6 GB of VRAM (Radeon RX 570 or GeForce GTX 1060) and 60 GB of free space. The recommended specs go up to a Ryzen 7 3700X or Core i7-9700, 32 GB of RAM and a graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM (Radeon RX 6700 or GeForce RTX 3060), for playing at 1080p.
These requirements are higher than many people expect from a driving game, and it makes sense: BeamNG calculates the physics of every part of every vehicle in real time. Below you’ll find the official table and what really matters when choosing or tuning a PC.
Official BeamNG.drive requirements on Steam
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 1600 / Intel Core i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X / Intel Core i7-9700 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics | 6 GB of VRAM (AMD Radeon RX 570 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060) | 8 GB of VRAM (AMD RX 6700 / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060) |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 60 GB | 60 GB |
Official notes: the recommended specs are aimed at 1080p; installing mods increases the space you need; a gamepad is recommended and steering wheels are supported. BeamNG’s documentation publishes the same table.
Other requirements: VR, Linux and Mac
- Virtual reality: you need a Vulkan-compatible graphics card and an OpenXR-compatible headset. Steam asks for 10 GB of VRAM; the official documentation lists 8 GB as the minimum and 10 GB as recommended.
- Linux: there’s a native version in experimental mode. It requires a graphics card and drivers that support Vulkan, and BeamNG recommends Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or SteamOS.
- Mac: not supported. BeamNG notes that the game only runs on Windows and, experimentally, on Linux.
- Renderer: since version 0.39, Direct3D 12 is the default renderer on Windows (the Steam requirements still mention DirectX 11). Vulkan is also available, and it’s required for VR.
What really matters in your PC
Processor: single-core performance and multiple cores
In BeamNG, physics weighs as much as graphics. Each vehicle is simulated independently, and the development team has explained on its forum that the physics uses one thread per vehicle, while the graphics need their own core. In practice, a processor with strong single-core performance makes things smoother with one or two cars, and having more cores helps when you add traffic or lots of vehicles at once. If your FPS drops as more cars spawn even though your graphics card has headroom to spare, the processor is the bottleneck.
RAM: 16 GB is tight with lots of vehicles
The game runs with 16 GB, but it’s tight. The official documentation warns that BeamNG can use more than 16 GB of memory, especially on large maps, with heavy traffic or with lots of cars. Version 0.39 reduced memory usage and added a detector that prevents spawning more vehicles or traffic if you’re at risk of running out of RAM. If you see that warning or the game closes while loading maps, the fix is to use fewer vehicles or move up to 32 GB, which is the recommended amount.
Graphics card and VRAM
The official minimum is 6 GB of VRAM. Version 0.39 brought a visual leap (PBR lighting, more stable shadows, HDR), and BeamNG itself acknowledges that some players will have to lower settings to keep their frame rate up. The higher the resolution and the more maps with detailed textures, the more VRAM you’ll need.
Storage and mods
The game takes up about 60 GB and every mod adds to that. Community maps tend to be the heaviest: they take more disk space, more VRAM and more RAM than a car. Car mods mostly affect the processor if they’re very detailed or if you put several on screen. If the game feels slower, disable the mods you’re not using; we explain how in how to install mods in BeamNG.drive. An SSD cuts loading times for large maps a lot.
Settings for low-end PCs
These settings come from the performance tips in the official documentation and the graphics options in version 0.39. Choose the custom quality preset to access every option:
- Dynamic reflections: turn them off or set the faces per update value (Faces per update) very low. It’s one of the biggest performance hogs.
- Shadows: lower them; turning them off gives the biggest boost at the cost of visual quality.
- Ambient occlusion (SSAO): turn it off on slow machines.
- Lighting: at the lowest level, car lights stop lighting up the surroundings, but you gain smoothness.
- New options in 0.39: lower terrain, cloud and local light quality, and try turning off screen-space shadows.
- Antialiasing: FXAA and SMAA perform almost the same; pick whichever you like better.
- Traffic and vehicles: reduce traffic and parked cars. Every vehicle adds physics work for the processor.
- Vehicle-to-vehicle collisions: you can turn them off in Options > Gameplay > Physics if you just want to drive with traffic, although it changes the experience.
- Windows: use the high-performance power plan and turn off Windows game recording. On laptops, make sure the game is using the dedicated graphics card.
BeamNG warns that if your PC doesn’t meet the minimum specs, these changes help, but the improvement may be small.
Does it run on Steam Deck?
On Steam, BeamNG.drive is listed as «Playable» on Steam Deck, not «Verified». Valve says performance with the default settings is fine, but it points out several issues: the launcher is hard to navigate with the Deck’s controls, the default controller configuration is incomplete, the button icons don’t match the Deck’s, the on-screen keyboard doesn’t pop up automatically and some text is hard to read.
According to the official documentation, Steam Deck uses the native Linux version by default, which runs on Vulkan and uses less battery than the Windows version through Proton. Expect to lower the graphics settings quite a bit and keep traffic light. BeamNG doesn’t publish FPS figures for the Deck.
What about consoles?
If your PC isn’t up to it, BeamNG.drive comes out on PS5 on October 19, 2026, although without mods at launch. You’ll find everything in BeamNG.drive on PS5.
BeamNG or Assetto Corsa? The differences are in BeamNG vs Assetto Corsa.
BeamNG.drive quick facts: Steam Deck · multiplayer · file size · consoles · price and whether it’s free · on mobile · PS5 and Xbox.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play BeamNG.drive with 8 GB of RAM?
That’s below the official minimum (16 GB). It may start with a single car on a small map, but you’ll most likely get stuttering, crashes when loading large maps, or the game won’t let you add vehicles.
Does it work with integrated graphics?
The official minimum is a graphics card with 6 GB of VRAM on the level of a GTX 1060 or an RX 570. The integrated graphics in most laptops fall short of that, so don’t expect playable performance.
How much space does BeamNG.drive take up?
Steam asks for 60 GB of free space. Mods, especially maps, add a lot more.
Is there BeamNG.drive for Mac?
No. It only runs on Windows and, in experimental mode, on Linux.
What matters more, the CPU or the graphics card?
Both, but the CPU decides how many cars you can run smoothly. If the game runs well with one car and gets worse when you add traffic, your bottleneck is the processor.