Minecraft Java Edition raises RAM recommendation to 16GB

Mojang has updated the system requirements for Minecraft: Java Edition, recommending 16 GB of RAM and increasing minimum memory to 8 GB for PCs with a dedicated graphics card or 12 GB for systems using integrated graphics. The changes were published after Update 26.2, which added the Vulkan graphics engine on June 16.

Mojang explained that Minecraft uses about 4 GB of memory itself and that the remaining RAM should be available for the operating system, the Minecraft launcher and background applications, which is why the recommended total is now 16 GB. The studio also updated its example graphics cards to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT and Intel Arc A580.

Mojang noted the previous requirements were based on hardware and graphics APIs more than a decade old and did not match the needs of current hardware. Vulkan is scheduled to fully replace OpenGL in the coming weeks, and the studio plans to introduce more advanced graphics features and improve performance scaling across modern GPUs.

“Advanced graphics features will continue to appear over time and Vulkan will allow the game to scale with newer hardware better than ever,” Mojang wrote.

Mojang warned that systems that do not meet the new minimum RAM levels or use significantly older GPUs may see reduced performance or be unable to run forthcoming graphical enhancements. The updated specifications apply to players running Minecraft: Java Edition on PC and are intended to prepare systems for future updates as the game shifts from OpenGL to Vulkan.