Scrap Mechanic 1.0 System Requirements

Why requirements rose with 1.0

Scrap Mechanic 1.0 and Drilling Thunder (July 24, 2026) raised official PC requirements compared to Early Access builds from 2020–2025. The jump is not arbitrary — the live game adds a full underground layer, dynamic weather, expanded lighting, voiced cutscenes and denser bot AI that Early Access machines never had to render simultaneously.

If your hardware ran the 2024 Physics & Wedge Update comfortably, it may still meet minimum 1.0 specs but struggle on recommended settings underground or in multiplayer. Check both tables below before buying or reinstalling.

For patch-level fixes that affect performance, see the updates log — patches 1.0.2 through 1.0.4 addressed Creative part restores, network stability and several crash fixes that indirectly help frame times.

Minimum requirements

These are the official minimum specs for Scrap Mechanic 1.0 as listed on Steam:

Component	Minimum spec
OS	Windows 10 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-1235U or equivalent
RAM	8 GB
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)
DirectX	Version 11
Storage	30 GB available space
Network	Broadband for multiplayer

Minimum specs target 720p at 30 FPS on Low settings with a small base and limited underground exploration. Integrated GPUs like Iris Xe can run the surface campaign but expect stutter during raid waves, weather transitions and any build above roughly 2,000 connected parts.

Recommended requirements

Recommended specs target 1080p at 60 FPS on Medium–High settings with underground mining, weather enabled and mid-size multiplayer sessions:

Component	Recommended spec
OS	Windows 11 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-12500 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600
RAM	16 GB
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB
DirectX	Version 11
Storage	30 GB available space (SSD strongly advised)

The 12 GB VRAM recommendation matters for large Creative Mode imports through the Scrap City Garage and for texture-heavy underground biomes. Systems with 6 GB cards can play but should lower render distance and shadow quality before descending.

What drives the higher bar

Three 1.0 systems account for most of the requirement increase:

1. Dynamic lighting and weather — rain, fog and day/night cycles add draw calls across the entire surface world. Indoor warehouse fights with battery-powered lights stack local light sources on top.
2. Underground rendering — caverns, lava glow and ore veins use separate lighting passes. Oxygen-restricted deep tunnels force the engine to keep surface and underground cells loaded during transitions.
3. Physics and bot scaling — raid waves, Tapebot projectiles and multiplayer bot counts scale with player count and crop value. CPU headroom matters as much as GPU for multiplayer farm defence sessions.

None of these systems existed in the same combination during Early Access. Returning players on old laptops should expect to lower settings even if the game launches.

Performance tips

Try these adjustments before assuming your hardware is too weak:

• Lower physics quality — Settings → Physics → Medium or Low. This is the single biggest frame-time win on large vehicles and automated farms.
• Reduce dynamic lights — replace decorative light rings with fewer, brighter sources. Each battery light adds a shadow-casting pass.
• Split large builds — separate factory modules with small gaps so the engine can cull disconnected structures. Critical for co-op hosts running multiplayer.
• Cap render distance underground — shorten view distance before mining sessions; cavern walls fill the screen anyway.
• Close background apps — 8 GB RAM minimum leaves little headroom for browsers and Discord overlays.
• Install on SSD — the 30 GB install streams biome data during fast travel; HDD stutter is noticeable on Mining Island drives.

Patch 1.0.3 added weather and time-of-day commands in Creative for testing; use them to benchmark rain and fog before enabling max settings in Survival.

Storage: 30 GB

The Steam listing specifies 30 GB available space. A fresh install after 1.0.4 typically uses 18–22 GB, but Axolot recommends 30 GB to accommodate future patches, save growth and Workshop mod caches. Workshop mods can add several gigabytes on top — budget extra space if you subscribe to large blueprint packs.

Steam Deck and handheld notes

Valve does not list Scrap Mechanic 1.0 as Steam Deck Verified as of early August 2026. Community reports (not official Axolot guidance) suggest the following:

• The game launches on Steam Deck via Proton, but default settings often sit below 30 FPS underground.
• Medium physics with Low shadows and 720p render scale is the most commonly reported playable preset.
• Multiplayer hosting from Deck hardware is unreliable; join sessions hosted on desktop PCs instead.
• Battery drain is steep during weather and raid scenes — treat Deck play as portable surface exploration, not serious underground mining.

Treat all Steam Deck advice as community-tested, not guaranteed. Verify on your own hardware after each major patch listed in updates.

Multiplayer hardware expectations

In co-op Survival, the host CPU runs bot AI, raid logic and physics for the entire session. Guests with weaker GPUs can still join, but a host below minimum CPU spec causes rubber-banding for everyone during wave 3+ raids.

Recommended practice:

• Host on the strongest PC in the group.
• Keep the host base under 3,000 connected parts during raid nights.
• Guests lower shadow quality independently — network sync does not require matching graphics presets.

Read the full multiplayer guide for invite setup and host migration tips after patch 1.0.2 networking fixes.