For the unofficial native Windows port, plan around a Vulkan 1.3-capable graphics card with a current driver. An RTX 2060 SUPER is the project’s published reference point, averaging about 67 FPS in its 60-FPS title-screen demo but dropping to roughly 29–34 FPS in the heaviest section. That is a project benchmark, not a guaranteed gameplay minimum or a promise of locked 60 FPS.
The project requires 64-bit Windows 10 or 11, your own legally obtained game dump, and the required sound modules. It does not publish minimum CPU, RAM, or storage specifications. A separate option is emulating the PS3 release with RPCS3, whose current general guidance starts at a modern six-core/12-thread CPU, a supported Vulkan GPU, at least 8 GB of dual-channel memory, and SSD storage for emulator data.
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There are two different ways to play it on a PC
“The Shadow of the Colossus PC port” can mean two technically different projects. Confusing them leads to the wrong hardware purchase.
Unofficial native Windows project
AjncSystem publishes a native Windows conversion of the PS4 release. Its README identifies version 0.57 in the copy accessed for this guide and states that the project is not affiliated with Sony Interactive Entertainment or Bluepoint Games. It translates the PS4 graphics workload to Vulkan rather than using DirectX.
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- Enhanced Performance: The RTX 2060 Super delivers exceptional gaming performance with 8GB of GDDR6 memory and a boost clock speed of up to 1650 MHz. It efficiently handles modern gaming titles at high settings, making it ideal for gamers seeking an immersive experience.
- Real-Time Ray Tracing: Equipped with Turing architecture, the RTX 2060 Super supports real-time ray tracing technology. This feature allows for realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections, enhancing visual fidelity in supported games and applications.
- VR Ready: The RTX 2060 Super is optimized for virtual reality (VR) experiences, providing low-latency and high-performance rendering. Gamers can enjoy an immersive VR environment with smooth graphics and responsive gameplay.
- DLSS Support: The graphics card supports Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which utilizes AI rendering to produce sharp images and increase frame rates without compromising quality. This technology ensures smoother gameplay, particularly at higher resolutions.
- Multiple Display Outputs**: With support for up to three displays, the RTX 2060 Super offers versatile connectivity options. It includes DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0b outputs, enabling multi-monitor setups for enhanced productivity or gaming immersion.
You must supply your own game dump and the project’s required Sony sound modules from your own hardware/software setup. It is not an official PC release with a conventional installer or a published minimum-spec sheet.
PS3 emulation through RPCS3
RPCS3 is a separate route: it emulates the PS3 release instead of running the native Windows conversion. Its hardware recommendations are broad emulator guidance, not a Shadow-specific frame-rate guarantee. Compatibility is tracked by game ID, region and media type, so the exact release matters.
Native port: the published requirement and a sensible target
| Component | What the project publishes | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 | Use a fully updated 64-bit installation; 32-bit Windows is not supported. |
| Graphics API | Vulkan 1.3 | The GPU and its driver must expose Vulkan 1.3. DirectX support alone is insufficient. |
| GPU reference | Approximately 67 FPS average on an RTX 2060 SUPER in the 60-FPS title-screen demo | Treat an RTX 2060 SUPER-class card as a practical reference, not a guaranteed minimum. |
| CPU | No official minimum stated | Favor a modern desktop processor with strong single-thread performance and sustained clock speeds. |
| System memory | No official minimum stated | 16 GB is sensible headroom for a current Windows gaming PC, but it is an editorial target, not a project requirement. |
| Storage | No official minimum stated | An SSD improves load times and shader-cache work; the project does not claim it is required for a particular FPS. |
GPU: Vulkan 1.3 is the non-negotiable check
Before considering raw GPU speed, verify Vulkan 1.3 support in the card’s current driver. A card that runs modern DirectX games well can still be unsuitable if its driver does not expose the Vulkan version the port expects.
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Install the latest stable graphics driver for your card, then confirm the reported Vulkan version with the driver’s information utility or a trusted hardware-information tool. Update the driver after installing a new port build only when the project’s release notes do not identify a known regression; unofficial projects can have GPU-specific issues.
VRAM also affects consistency. The project README notes that 8 GB of VRAM can approach the limit in large areas. That does not establish an 8 GB minimum, but it is a warning against treating a card’s average benchmark as proof that every resolution and scene will fit comfortably. More VRAM provides headroom for high-resolution assets, shader caches and other applications running alongside the game.
What the RTX 2060 SUPER result actually tells you
AjncSystem reports approximately 67 FPS average on an RTX 2060 SUPER in a 60-FPS title-screen demo. In the demo’s heaviest section, the same reference falls to approximately 29–34 FPS. The result demonstrates two important points:
- The project can exceed its 60-FPS presentation target in a light section on that class of GPU.
- Frame-time demand varies sharply, so a card that averages above 60 FPS may still dip well below 60 in demanding areas.
Those numbers are measured by the project, accessed in 2026; the README publication date is not stated. They are not a laboratory comparison across graphics cards, and they do not guarantee performance in normal gameplay, at a particular resolution, or with later releases. If your goal is a stable 60 FPS, buy for headroom above the reference rather than matching it exactly.
CPU: no published floor, so avoid an artificial minimum
The native project does not state a CPU minimum. It would be misleading to invent a model number and call it official. A modern desktop CPU with strong single-thread performance, adequate sustained clocks and six or more current-generation cores is a sensible planning point, especially if you stream, record, compile shaders or run other software at the same time. The GPU remains the clearest published reference, but a weak or thermally constrained CPU can still produce uneven frame pacing.
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- Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super
- Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
- Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Memory Interface: 256-bit.Avoid using unofficial software
- Output: DisplayPort x 3 (V1. 4)/ HDMI 2. 0B x 1
Check actual sustained clocks and temperatures, not just the processor’s boost number. Laptop CPUs and low-power systems can have the same model branding as desktop parts while maintaining lower clocks under a long session.
RAM and storage: practical headroom versus stated requirements
No native-port minimum for system RAM or disk capacity is published. Sixteen gigabytes of RAM is a reasonable contemporary Windows target because it leaves room for the operating system, shader tools and background applications. It should be labeled as headroom, not as a requirement imposed by the project.
An SSD is likewise a quality-of-life recommendation rather than an FPS specification. Put the game files and shader cache on an SSD if possible; this reduces loading and first-run shader-build delays. Keep additional free space so Windows and the driver can maintain caches without filling the volume.
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Decide the target before buying hardware. “The game launches” and “the game sustains the desired frame rate” are different tests. A Vulkan-capable card may start the program yet fail to hold 60 FPS in the heavy sections identified by the project.
| Target | What to prioritize | Risk to acknowledge |
|---|---|---|
| Playable, variable frame rate | Any GPU that genuinely supports Vulkan 1.3, with current drivers; use the RTX 2060 SUPER result as a reference | Heavy areas may fall well below 60 FPS. |
| Mostly 60 FPS | More GPU and VRAM headroom than the published reference, plus a modern CPU | No project benchmark establishes a guaranteed lock at a chosen resolution. |
| High resolution or long-term upgrades | A newer Vulkan 1.3 card with more VRAM than the minimum practical target, an SSD and 16 GB or more system RAM | Later port builds, drivers and shader changes can alter performance. |
Use a frame-time graph or an in-game overlay while visiting a demanding area. An FPS counter showing a high average can hide hitching caused by shader compilation, VRAM pressure or CPU stalls.
Preparing and running the native Windows project
- Confirm the platform. Use 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 and install pending operating-system updates.
- Verify Vulkan. Check that the GPU’s current driver exposes Vulkan 1.3. If it does not, the port’s stated requirement is not met, regardless of DirectX performance.
- Update the graphics driver carefully. Use a current stable release and read the port’s release notes for known GPU-specific issues before changing versions.
- Provide your own source data. Create a legally obtained dump of the PS4 game and obtain the required Sony sound modules from your own hardware/software setup. The project does not supply those files.
- Install the port exactly as its README specifies. Keep the game files, executable and shader-cache locations on an SSD when possible, and avoid mixing files from different releases.
- Allow the first shader build to finish. The README warns that the first launch after updates rebuilds shaders. The initial run can therefore take longer and may stutter until the cache is populated.
- Test a demanding scene. Do not validate the system only at the title screen. Watch frame pacing in a heavy area and at the resolution you actually intend to use.
RPCS3 alternative: hardware guidance for the PS3 release
RPCS3’s current quickstart recommends the following starting point:
| Part | RPCS3 recommended starting point | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Six cores/12 threads; AMD Zen 2 or newer, or Intel Skylake or newer | PS3 emulation places substantial load on CPU instruction translation and synchronization. |
| GPU | An actively supported Vulkan card; AMD Polaris/RX 400 or newer, or NVIDIA Maxwell/GTX 900 or newer | Driver support and Vulkan compatibility are central to the renderer. |
| RAM | 8 GB or more, dual-channel | Dual-channel operation helps avoid an avoidable memory-bandwidth bottleneck. |
| Storage | SSD for emulator data | Reduces loading and supports emulator caches. |
RPCS3 explicitly says it cannot guarantee performance below its recommended requirements, while experimentation is still possible. Meeting the list also does not guarantee a fixed frame rate for this game. Check the current compatibility entry for the exact game ID, region and disc or digital media before you commit to this route.
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| Question | Native Windows project | RPCS3 |
|---|---|---|
| What it runs | A PS4-derived native conversion | The PS3 release through emulation |
| Graphics requirement | Vulkan 1.3 and a recent driver | Supported Vulkan GPU and current emulator drivers |
| CPU guidance | No project minimum; prioritize modern single-thread performance | Six cores/12 threads, with Zen 2-or-newer or Skylake-or-newer guidance |
| Published performance evidence | RTX 2060 SUPER: about 67 FPS average, with about 29–34 FPS in the heaviest demo section | No Shadow-specific guarantee in the general requirements |
| Files needed | Your own game dump and required sound modules | Your own legally obtained PS3 game data and the emulator’s required setup |
| Main uncertainty | Unofficial, actively changing project with GPU-specific issues | Compatibility varies by game ID, media, region, emulator revision and driver |
Troubleshooting common performance problems
The program will not start
- Recheck that Windows is 64-bit and that the GPU driver exposes Vulkan 1.3.
- Install the current driver rather than relying on an old operating-system driver.
- Confirm that every required game and sound file came from your own setup and belongs to the same project release.
Performance is poor after an update
- Expect a shader rebuild on the first launch after updates; let it complete before judging sustained performance.
- Compare a demanding area, not only the title screen.
- Check VRAM usage, temperatures and clocks. The README’s warning about 8 GB VRAM approaching the limit in large areas makes texture or resolution reductions a logical diagnostic step.
RPCS3 runs but stutters or is incompatible
- Verify the exact game ID and media/region entry in the current compatibility information.
- Use dual-channel RAM and an SSD for emulator data.
- Do not assume that meeting the general CPU/GPU list guarantees a fixed frame rate; emulator revisions and game-specific patches change results.
A buying checklist
- For the native project, confirm Vulkan 1.3 support before comparing GPU brands or raw benchmark scores.
- Use an RTX 2060 SUPER-class card only as the project’s measured reference, never as a guaranteed minimum.
- Choose additional GPU and VRAM headroom if a stable 60 FPS, high resolution or future updates matter.
- Pair the card with a modern CPU that can sustain strong single-thread performance.
- Target 16 GB system RAM and an SSD as practical system choices, while recognizing that the project publishes neither as a formal minimum.
- For RPCS3, start with six cores/12 threads, a supported Vulkan GPU, 8 GB or more of dual-channel RAM and SSD storage.
- Recheck the project release, driver notes and emulator compatibility immediately before buying or installing. Unofficial ports and emulators can change behavior between revisions.
Bottom line
The safest hardware plan for the unofficial native port is a current 64-bit Windows 10/11 PC with a Vulkan 1.3-capable GPU, a recent driver, a modern CPU and sensible memory/storage headroom. The RTX 2060 SUPER is the only published performance reference supplied by the project, and its roughly 29–34 FPS heavy-section result shows why “runs” should not be confused with “locked 60 FPS.” If you choose RPCS3 instead, follow its six-core/12-thread, supported-Vulkan-GPU, 8 GB dual-channel RAM and SSD guidance, then verify the exact game entry because neither route offers a universal frame-rate guarantee.
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