Planet Zoo 2 requires 16 GB of RAM and 40 GB of storage at both official tiers. The listed minimum GPU class starts at an RTX 2060, RX 5600 XT, or Intel Arc A750. The recommended tier moves to an RTX 3070, RX 6700 XT, or Intel Arc A770 and requires an SSD.
Frontier has not attached a resolution, frame-rate target, or zoo size to these specifications. Do not read “minimum” as a promise of 1080p/60 FPS.
Official Steam requirements rechecked October 29, 2026, after the October 13 release. Store specifications may change with updates.
Official minimum and recommended requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| NVIDIA GPU | GeForce RTX 2060, 6 GB VRAM | GeForce RTX 3070, 8 GB VRAM |
| AMD GPU | Radeon RX 5600 XT, 6 GB VRAM | Radeon RX 6700 XT, 12 GB VRAM |
| Intel GPU | Arc A750, 8 GB VRAM | Arc A770, 16 GB VRAM |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 40 GB available | 40 GB available |
| Drive note | SSD recommended | SSD required |
Steam also notes that Microsoft has ended Windows 10 support and that ongoing compatibility cannot be guaranteed.
What matters most in these specs?
CPU
The recommended processors have more headroom than the minimum tier. Zoo simulations can become CPU-heavy when they track many animals, guests, staff members, paths, and economy systems at once.
That is a general workload expectation, not a measured Planet Zoo 2 result. We have not published repeatable Planet Zoo 2 CPU scaling results.
Graphics card and VRAM
The official minimum starts at 6 GB of VRAM for the listed NVIDIA and AMD cards, while the Intel minimum lists 8 GB. The recommended cards range from 8 GB to 16 GB.
VRAM amount alone does not make two GPUs equivalent. Architecture, driver behavior, memory bandwidth, resolution, and graphics settings all affect performance.
RAM
Both tiers list 16 GB. That means an 8 GB system is below the official minimum even if its CPU and GPU are otherwise close.
Close memory-heavy browser tabs and background apps when playing on a 16 GB machine, but look for controlled benchmarks before assuming a specific benefit from 32 GB.
SSD and storage
The game lists 40 GB of free space. An SSD is recommended at minimum and required at the recommended tier.
Keep extra free space for shader caches, updates, Workshop downloads, and save files. The 40 GB figure should not be treated as a permanent maximum install size.
How to check your Windows PC
Find your CPU and RAM
- Press
Windows + R. - Type
msinfo32and press Enter. - Read Processor and Installed Physical Memory.
Find your graphics card
- Open Task Manager with
Ctrl + Shift + Esc. - Select Performance.
- Choose GPU and note the model and dedicated GPU memory.
You can also run dxdiag to check DirectX and display information.
Check the installation drive
- Open File Explorer → This PC. Under Devices and drives, note the free space and drive letter for the drive where you plan to install the game. Compare available space, not the drive’s total capacity, with the listed 40 GB.
- In Windows Settings → System → Storage, open Disks & volumes under the advanced storage settings. Match the installation volume to its disk and check the reported type: SSD or HDD.
- If the type is not shown, use the disk model and its manufacturer’s specification to identify it; leave the result unconfirmed until you can. Leave room beyond the listed 40 GB for updates and local content.
Microsoft documents the free-space check and the disk-type information in Storage settings; checked October 30, 2026 (UTC). This is an information check and does not require formatting, resizing or optimizing a drive. Menu placement can vary between Windows versions.
Read your hardware result
- Below a listed minimum: that component does not meet the published baseline. A stronger GPU does not cancel out insufficient RAM or storage.
- Meets minimum but not recommended: your machine meets the lower written tier; the listing supplies no frame-rate or zoo-size guarantee.
- Meets recommended: your machine meets the higher written tier, including its SSD requirement. Use a repeatable benchmark for the performance of your intended zoo.
An unidentified component is still unconfirmed. Similar model names or matching VRAM alone are not enough to place an unlisted GPU in either tier.
Can a laptop run Planet Zoo 2?
Possibly, but laptop parts with similar names can perform differently from desktop models. Power limits, cooling, memory configuration, and the exact GPU version matter.
Compare the full laptop GPU name and wattage, not only “RTX 30-series” or “Core i7.” We will not label a laptop as supported until its performance is measured or its hardware clearly meets the official tier.
Is Steam Deck support confirmed?
Steam Deck compatibility is not confirmed in the official requirements checked for this guide. The listed minimum hardware and Windows/DirectX 12 requirement are not proof that the game will or will not run under SteamOS.
Check the current Steam Deck compatibility badge and reproducible tests before relying on handheld play.
Is there a Mac version?
The Steam page lists Windows 10 and Windows 11. A native macOS version is not currently listed. Cloud gaming or compatibility-layer availability should be treated as a separate service question, not native Mac support.
How to judge a performance test
Before using a benchmark to choose settings or hardware, check that it lets you compare the same conditions:
- record the exact game build, driver, CPU, GPU, RAM, resolution, and graphics preset;
- test an empty or small zoo and a repeatable high-load zoo separately;
- record average FPS and 1% low FPS over a fixed route;
- note animal, guest, and staff counts;
- change one major graphics setting at a time;
- keep screenshots from the same camera position.
No independent measurements are presented here, so this page does not assign “best settings” or frame-rate targets.
Sources and update history
- Planet Zoo 2 on Steam — official minimum and recommended PC requirements.
- Planet Zoo 2 official site — official announcements.
- Microsoft Support: check available drive space and Storage settings — read-only Windows storage checks; checked October 30, 2026 (UTC).
Update history
- October 29, 2026: Rechecked the released Steam listing; the published requirement table remains the source for this guide.
- July 30, 2026: Recorded the first official requirements and added the launch benchmark protocol.
Game Field Guide is an independent guide site and is not affiliated with Frontier Developments.