For PC players using path tracing, IO Interactive’s latest guidance is to start with the game’s recommended graphics defaults, then match the path-tracing quality and resolution to your GPU. IOI pairs an RTX 5070 with Medium at 1080p, an RTX 5080 with Medium at 1440p, and an RTX 5090 with High at up to 4K. Enable DLSS Super Resolution with the Auto ratio; use frame generation if you want higher displayed frame rates. These are developer recommendations for path tracing, not universal settings for every PC or console.
Recommended path-tracing settings for PC
Update the game and graphics driver first. IO Interactive’s September 25, 2026 Path Tracing Hotfix #2, version 1.2.2, provides the most specific settings guidance available here. Its recommendations apply to PC path tracing.
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| GPU | Path-tracing quality | Recommended resolution | IOI’s stated performance expectation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5070 | Medium | 1080p | Around 60 FPS; IOI says results depend on the mission and checkpoint. |
| RTX 5080 | Medium | 1440p | Around 60 FPS; IOI says results depend on the mission and checkpoint. |
| RTX 5090 | High | Up to 4K | IOI says 200+ FPS is possible with 6X DLSS Frame Generation. |
These figures are IOI’s estimates, not independent benchmark results or guarantees. The higher RTX 5090 figure specifically uses 6X frame generation, so it should not be read as native rendering performance. Source: IO Interactive’s Path Tracing Hotfix #2 guidance.
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Path tracing has Medium and High quality levels. IOI says High improves shading and reflection detail and uses more light bounces, but is resource-intensive. Its general recommendation is Medium for the best balance, except for RTX 5090 users, for whom it recommends High. If performance is not smooth, follow the GPU-specific pairing above rather than raising quality and resolution together.
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Set DLSS and frame generation
- Set NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution to Auto, as IOI recommends.
- DLSS Frame Generation offers multipliers from 2X through 6X. IOI says enabling 2X with Super Resolution Auto should keep play consistently above 60 FPS across the game, while noting that its baseline around-60-FPS estimates vary by mission and checkpoint.
- Dynamic Multi Frame Generation can adjust the multiplier to maintain a consistent frame rate.
- VSync is optional: IOI says it can be turned off depending on your display and preference, not that it should always be disabled.
Frame generation can increase the displayed frame rate, but its multiplier is not a promise of an equivalent increase in natively rendered frames.
Restore defaults if settings are unclear
The hotfix includes an option to enable recommended defaults. If you have changed several graphics settings and are unsure which is causing poor performance or image quality, restore the game’s graphics defaults, select the path-tracing mode and resolution IOI recommends for your GPU, then adjust one setting at a time.
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General PC requirements are not the path-tracing recommendations
IOI’s support overview, updated September 15, 2026, lists these requirements for the game’s general PC specification. It does not provide a separate path-tracing minimum or recommended tier.
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| Recommended | Intel Core i5-13500 or AMD Ryzen 5 7600 | 16 GB RAM | RTX 3060 Ti, RX 6700 XT, or Intel discrete equivalent | SSD with 80 GB available |
The RTX 5070 path-tracing recommendation is a higher, feature-specific target—not a requirement for ordinary PC play. The later support overview lists 16 GB RAM for both general tiers. IOI’s January 6, 2026 announcement had listed 32 GB for its recommended specification and included explicit 1080p/60-FPS targets; for current displayed requirements, use the later support page. Sources: IOI’s 007 First Light Player Support overview and IOI’s January 6, 2026 PC announcement.
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What to do if performance or display support is the problem
Check the game’s scope and display status
The support overview lists PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S as released May 27, 2026, with Nintendo Switch 2 listed for March 2027. The September 15, 2026 support page says ultrawide monitors are not supported “at this time.” Check the current support page if you are reading this later, since compatibility status can change.
IOI’s cited settings guidance does not establish console resolution, quality or performance modes, or frame-rate targets. Do not apply the PC path-tracing preset to a console; use the options actually available in your platform’s game settings.
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Confirm installation requirements
For PC, IOI lists an SSD and 80 GB of available storage. Its support page says the campaign can be played offline after a one-time internet connection to download the day-one patch. An IOI account is not required to play, although some rewards require one. These details are useful if the game will not install or launch; they are not graphics settings.
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If your specific goal is IOI’s 1080p path-tracing recommendation, its listed pairing is an RTX 5070 with Medium quality. That is optional hardware guidance for path tracing, not a purchase requirement for the general PC specification, which lists an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT as its recommended graphics tier. Choose hardware based on the resolution and features you want, and verify current pricing and availability independently.
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