Virtue and a Sledgehammer is a Windows PC narrative exploration and action-adventure game from Deconstructeam and Selkie Harbour, published by Devolver Digital. It released on October 27, 2026. Steam’s official profiles target 1080p at 60 FPS: the minimum profile pairs Low quality with older mid-range hardware, while the recommended profile pairs High quality with a stronger CPU, GPU and 16 GB of memory.
Use the table below to match your computer to the closest official tier. A machine around the minimum profile should begin at 1080p Low; one near the recommended profile should begin at 1080p High. Steam does not publish a setting-by-setting benchmark or a GPU scaling chart, so those targets are specifications rather than a guarantee for every scene or configuration.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p, 60 FPS target on Low quality | Windows 10 64-bit; Core i5-6600K or Ryzen 5 3550H; 8 GB RAM; GTX 960, RX 570 or Arc A380; DirectX 11; 3 GB storage | Windows PC via Steam | Nov 2026 |
| Recommended | 1080p, 60 FPS target on High quality | Windows 11 64-bit; Core i7-6950 or Ryzen 7 2700X; 16 GB RAM; GTX 1080 or RX 5700; DirectX 12; 3 GB storage | Windows PC via Steam | Nov 2026 |
What are the official Virtue and a Sledgehammer system requirements?
The two Steam profiles are unusually clear about their intended result: both describe 1080p output at 60 FPS, but each attaches that target to a different image-quality preset. The minimum row is a Low-quality configuration, while the recommended row is a High-quality configuration. The processor, graphics card, memory, operating-system and DirectX requirements in the table are the complete published specifications.
How to interpret the minimum profile
The minimum row is the practical starting point for a playable 1080p setup. Its listed processors and graphics cards are several generations old, but they represent a class rather than a promise that every card with a similar name will behave identically. If your PC is close to this row, select the Low preset first and leave room for background applications by keeping system memory use under control.
How to interpret the recommended profile
The recommended row is the appropriate reference for High quality at the stated resolution and frame-rate target. The jump to a higher processor class, twice the memory and a substantially faster graphics class is intended to provide more headroom for the game’s lighting, effects and destructible exploration spaces. It is not a requirement for launching the game; it is the profile Steam associates with High quality.
Can my PC run Virtue and a Sledgehammer?
Check four items in Windows: your operating-system edition, installed RAM, processor model and graphics card. If all four meet or exceed the minimum row, your computer matches Steam’s entry profile. If the graphics card is below that class, lowering settings may help, but Steam provides no official lower-than-minimum configuration.
- Press
Win+R, entermsinfo32, and confirm that Windows is a 64-bit installation. The minimum profile names Windows 10 64-bit; the recommended profile names Windows 11 64-bit. - In Settings > System > About, note the processor model and installed RAM. Compare the model, not only its clock speed, with the corresponding CPU class in the table.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, then use Display adapter properties to identify the active GPU. A laptop may list both an integrated and a discrete adapter, so check which one runs games.
- In File Explorer > This PC, verify at least 3 GB of free space on the drive used for the Steam library. Leave additional room for Windows updates, save files and temporary installer data.
- Update Windows and the graphics driver before the first launch. Updates do not change the published requirement tier, but they can prevent avoidable startup or rendering errors.
Steam’s requirements are reference points, not a compatibility test for every custom-built or laptop system. Mobile versions of a named GPU, thermal limits, single-channel memory and heavily occupied background processes can all reduce headroom even when the model names appear to match.
What GPU do I need for Virtue and a Sledgehammer?
For the official minimum target, Steam names the GeForce GTX 960, Radeon RX 570 and Intel Arc A380 classes. For High quality at the recommended target, it names the GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon RX 5700 classes. These are the only GPU classes Steam publishes for the game.
Do not treat a GPU name as a guaranteed frame rate. Laptop variants can have different power limits, and cards with similar branding can differ in memory configuration or cooling. If your card falls between the two official classes, start at 1080p Low, check whether motion remains smooth, and raise individual quality options gradually rather than assuming the recommended preset will hold 60 FPS.
What CPU and RAM do I need?
The minimum processor examples are Intel Core i5-6600K and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H, paired with 8 GB of system memory. The recommended examples are Intel Core i7-6950 and AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, paired with 16 GB. The difference in memory capacity matters when the game is running alongside a browser, recording software or a voice chat client.
A processor that meets the graphics requirement but falls well below the listed CPU class may produce uneven frame pacing even if an on-screen average appears acceptable. Conversely, a faster CPU cannot compensate for a graphics card below the minimum class when High-quality rendering is the bottleneck. Close unnecessary launchers and overlays before troubleshooting performance.
Which settings should I use for 60 FPS?
Use the official preset associated with the tier your hardware most closely matches, then adjust in a controlled order. Steam’s listing does not identify which individual options cost the most performance, so there is no authoritative setting-by-setting recipe.
- Set the display resolution to 1920×1080 and choose Low if your system is near minimum, or High if it is near recommended.
- Play a representative section that includes exploration and demolition rather than judging performance from a menu or quiet room.
- If motion is not consistently smooth, lower the render resolution or overall quality preset before changing several unrelated options at once.
- Change one setting at a time and keep a note of the previous value. This makes it possible to return to a stable configuration if an adjustment introduces visual artifacts.
- If your monitor is set above 60 Hz, remember that Steam’s requirement profiles target 60 FPS, not a higher refresh-rate mode.
Third-party pages may publish estimated frame-rate ranges modeled from rendering demand. Those figures are estimates, not independent measurements, and they should not be presented as tested results. Steam supplies the two official 1080p/60 FPS profiles but no frametime data, benchmark run or GPU scaling graph.
How much storage does the game need?
Steam lists 3 GB of available storage for both requirement tiers. That is the published game-space figure, not a recommendation to fill a drive to its limit. Keep extra free capacity for the Steam client, updates, shader caches and Windows temporary files, especially on a nearly full system drive.
Does Virtue and a Sledgehammer run on Steam Deck?
Steam marks the game as Steam Deck Verified. That status indicates Valve’s compatibility checks classify the listed Steam build as suitable for the handheld’s supported experience. The PC requirement table remains Windows-focused, so Deck owners should rely on the store’s current Verified badge and any device-specific settings shown by Steam rather than translating the Windows GPU names directly to the handheld.
The game is single-player and includes full controller support, making it suitable for handheld play without requiring a mouse-and-keyboard control scheme. Steam also lists Steam Cloud, achievements, Family Sharing and a demo.
What operating-system and graphics API versions are listed?
The minimum profile specifies Windows 10 64-bit with DirectX 11. The recommended profile specifies Windows 11 64-bit with DirectX 12. These pairings describe the official target configurations; they do not mean that installing DirectX 12 on an otherwise minimum machine turns it into a recommended system.
If the game reports a missing API or startup error, confirm that Windows is fully updated and that the installed graphics driver supports the API selected by the game. On a multi-GPU laptop, make sure the Steam executable is assigned to the discrete adapter in Windows graphics settings.
What kind of game is Virtue and a Sledgehammer?
Steam describes a narrative exploration game in which the player returns to a hometown haunted by digitized android neighbors. A sledgehammer lets the player demolish structures and create routes when there is no obvious path. The store description frames the story as confronting the feeling of no longer belonging in the place where you grew up.
That design explains why the official target is expressed at a fixed 1080p resolution with two quality levels rather than a high-refresh competitive profile. The game is built for a single-player, story-led experience in which exploration and destruction shape navigation.
Where can I buy it and what should I check before installing?
The supported distribution described by Steam is a digital PC release through the Steam listing. Verify the current regional price and available download before purchase because store metadata and prices can change. The listing showed $14.99 when checked on October 30, 2026; that figure is not a permanent worldwide price.
- Confirm that your Steam account can install games on the drive with at least the published free space.
- Check that your Windows installation is 64-bit, not 32-bit.
- Use the demo, where available on the store page, as an additional compatibility check rather than treating it as a substitute for the official requirements.
- Keep the graphics driver current and close overlays if you encounter crashes or inconsistent frame pacing.
How were the requirement tiers selected?
The tiers come directly from Steam’s published minimum and recommended profiles. The useful comparison points are the CPU and GPU classes, 8 GB versus 16 GB of memory, Windows 10/DirectX 11 versus Windows 11/DirectX 12, and Low versus High quality at the same 1080p/60 FPS target. No independent benchmark table is established for this release.
FAQ
Is Virtue and a Sledgehammer multiplayer?
No. Steam lists it as a single-player game. Online multiplayer hardware or network requirements are therefore not part of the published compatibility profiles.
What languages are available?
Steam lists interface and subtitles in English, French, Spanish-Spain, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian. No full-audio language is listed on the store page.
How much does Virtue and a Sledgehammer cost on Steam?
The Steam listing showed a $14.99 purchase price when accessed on October 30, 2026. Regional pricing, taxes and promotions can change, so check the store page for the amount charged in your location.
How positive are the early Steam reviews?
At the October 30, 2026 snapshot, 99% of 134 user reviews were positive. Review percentages and review counts are live store metadata and may change as more players post feedback.
Does the game include cloud saves?
Yes. Steam lists Steam Cloud support, so saves can synchronize through the Steam account when the feature is enabled. Synchronization still depends on the client completing its upload before you move to another machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Virtue and a Sledgehammer multiplayer?
No. Steam lists it as a single-player game. Online multiplayer hardware or network requirements are therefore not part of the published compatibility profiles.
What languages are available?
Steam lists interface and subtitles in English, French, Spanish-Spain, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian. No full-audio language is listed on the store page.
How much does Virtue and a Sledgehammer cost on Steam?
The Steam listing showed a $14.99 purchase price when accessed on October 30, 2026. Regional pricing, taxes and promotions can change, so check the store page for the amount charged in your location.
How positive are the early Steam reviews?
At the October 30, 2026 snapshot, 99% of 134 user reviews were positive. Review percentages and review counts are live store metadata and may change as more players post feedback.
Does the game include cloud saves?
Yes. Steam lists Steam Cloud support, so saves can synchronize through the Steam account when the feature is enabled. Synchronization still depends on the client completing its upload before you move to another machine.