Start by finding your graphics card’s exact model and checking that it supports hardware ray tracing. Gears of War: E-Day requires a hardware ray-tracing-capable GPU; cards without dedicated hardware ray-tracing support are listed as unsupported. Then compare your GPU and the rest of your PC with the current official requirements.
Find your PC’s exact graphics card
- In Windows, open Settings → System → About and note your processor and installed memory.
- Open Task Manager → Performance → GPU, or Device Manager → Display adapters, and record the graphics adapter’s full model name.
- If Windows lists both integrated and discrete graphics, record both. For gaming, confirm which adapter the game will use; the integrated adapter’s presence does not tell you whether the discrete card qualifies.
Do not rely on a broad label such as “gaming GPU,” a card’s age, or its brand family. Laptop variants and desktop cards can differ, so check the exact model against its manufacturer’s documentation.
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Check for hardware ray tracing
The Steam listing states: “A hardware ray tracing capable graphics card is required. Graphics cards without dedicated hardware ray tracing support are not support.” In other words, hardware ray tracing is an eligibility requirement, not merely a graphics option you can switch off to make an unsupported older card work. PC Gamer’s transcription of the requirements gives NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 as examples in the minimum tier. Those examples do not establish that every similarly named card, especially a laptop version, qualifies.
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Compare the complete requirements, not just the GPU rule
The Coalition’s Xbox Wire announcement says final PC specifications were revealed and notes that its PC-specifications image was updated on September 28, 2026. Check that current image or the live Steam listing for the complete GPU, CPU, memory, and storage requirements. The available announcement establishes that the image exists but does not provide its full table as searchable text here, so do not treat a GPU example alone as proof that an entire PC meets the requirements.
PC Gamer transcribes these resolution and frame-rate targets for the published tiers. They are requirements-table targets, not independently measured performance guarantees:
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- 2nd Generation RT Cores: Experience 2X the throughput of 1st gen RT Cores, plus concurrent RT and shading for a whole new level of ray-tracing performance.
- 3rd Generation Tensor Cores: Get up to 2X the throughput with structural sparsity and advanced AI algorithms such as DLSS. These cores deliver a massive boost in game performance and all-new AI capabilities.
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| Tier | Published target | GPU examples or notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p at 60 fps | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 are listed as examples. |
| Recommended | 1440p at 60+ fps | Check the complete current requirements table for its GPU and other component specifications. |
| Ultra | 4K at 60+ fps | Check the complete current requirements table for its GPU and other component specifications. |
The source’s performance targets mention DLSS, FSR, TSR, or XeSS. They do not mean those technologies make a GPU without hardware ray-tracing support eligible, and the listed RTX 2060 and RX 6600 examples should not be assumed to deliver identical frame rates.
Separate required compatibility from optional rendering features
The Coalition says E-Day uses DirectX 12 and supports hardware ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 with Super Resolution and Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, NVIDIA Reflex, AMD FSR, Unreal Engine TSR, Intel XeSS, and Advanced Shader Delivery on compatible systems. These technologies can affect rendering or performance on supported hardware; they are distinct from the basic requirement for a hardware-ray-tracing-capable GPU.
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NVIDIA describes ray-traced shadows using MegaLights and ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion through Lumen. Its stated requirement of at least 12 GB of VRAM applies to RTX Mega Geometry, a feature-specific condition—not the general minimum to play. Check the current game and feature specifications before judging whether your system can use that particular feature.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If your PC does not qualify
If the exact GPU lacks hardware ray-tracing support, or falls short of the current listed tier, do not assume lowering graphics settings or enabling upscaling will solve the eligibility issue. You can check whether a compatible GPU upgrade makes sense for your whole system: account for power-supply capacity, case clearance, and the total cost, as well as the card’s ray-tracing support and intended resolution.
NVIDIA also describes GeForce NOW cloud streaming as an option for people without a compatible local GeForce RTX PC or laptop. Availability depends on your region, subscription, supported storefront, and game-library conditions; check the service’s current terms before relying on it.
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