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Returnal

Returnal is a 2021 roguelike third-person shooter video game developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It follows Selene Vassos, an astronaut who lands on the planet Atropos in search of the mysterious "White Shadow" signal and finds herself trapped in a time loop. After crash-landing on a shape-shifting alien planet, Selene finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Every time she’s defeated, the player is forced to restart the journey.

ShooterPC (Microsoft Windows)PlayStation 5
ReleasedApr 30, 2021
Performance dataNot seeded yet
Catalog sourcemanual

This page is a PC performance guide. Check how the Windows version should run on your hardware, then raise the FPS target if you want SpecBeacon to suggest what to upgrade first.

Returnal
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Performance

FPS estimation pending

This title is visible in the live catalog, but benchmark rows are not seeded yet. You can still browse media and update notes here.

Media

Screenshots

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Guide

How to use this page

SpecBeacon mixes official PC requirements, benchmark coverage, linked review pages, and update notes so you can make a quicker hardware decision without hopping across multiple tabs.

Check firstRelease + notes
Benchmark coveragePending
Reaction signal1 sources
  • Use the FPS card first if you want a quick answer for your current PC.
  • Use the update and review links below when a game is new, patched often, or still getting mixed reports.
  • When benchmark coverage is thin, treat the estimate as directional and prioritize the GPU before chasing smaller CPU gains.
Read next

Related guides

If you are still deciding whether this game is worth an upgrade, these short guides explain how SpecBeacon reads FPS targets, PC requirements, and GPU-first upgrade decisions.

How FPS estimates workHow to pick a GPU upgradeHow to read PC requirements
Updates

Latest notes

Steam App ID 1649240

Returnal - April 25th Patch is Now Available
OfficialPatch Notes
Community Announcements · Neil_XDEV2023-04-25Greeting from Atropos! We have a new update today that adds NVIDIA's DLSS 3, including Reflex. Break the cycle on PC and find the April 25th patch notes below! - Neil PATCH NOTES: Upgraded to NVIDIA DLSS 3 Implemented NVIDIA Reflex Potential fix for falling out of the world in co-op when fighting the Nemesis boss Updated FSR 2.1 description text to correct version number
Returnal - April 19th Patch is Now Available
OfficialPatch Notes
Community Announcements · Neil_XDEV2023-04-19Greeting from Atropos! We have a new update today that adds AMD's FSR 2, an option to manually rebuild your PSO cache data, and a number of other bug fixes. Break the cycle on PC and find the April 19th patch notes below! - Neil PATCH NOTES: Upgraded to AMD FSR 2 Added option to manually rebuild PSO cache to Settings > Graphics Fixed specific hitches that can occur during boss fights Fixed out of...
Returnal - March 9th Patch is Now Available
OfficialPatch Notes
Community Announcements · Neil_XDEV2023-03-09Greeting from Atropos! We have a new update today that aims to reduce stuttering and fix a number of crashes, alongside some other general fixes. Break the cycle on PC and find the full March 9th patch notes below! - Neil PATCH NOTES: Multiple optimisation improvements to reduce stuttering on CPUs with fewer than 8 cores. Updated PSO system to reduce stuttering when Ray Tracing is enabled. Fixed c...
Returnal - February 17th Patch is Now Available
OfficialPatch Notes
Community Announcements · Neil_XDEV2023-02-17Welcome to Atropos! We are honoured to have so many new players experiencing our dark, deep and beautiful action thriller, Returnal! Bringing Returnal to PC and capturing that PlayStation 5 experience took a lot of work and focus from the team at Climax Studios, with support from Housemarque and XDEV. We have been blown away and are so thankful for the amazing reviews, feedback and reports you hav...
Nominate Returnal in The Steam Awards
Official
Community Announcements · RM_MaxBenjamin2023-11-24Astra Scouts, Returnal needs your nomination in The Steam Awards for "BEST GAME YOU SUCK AT." Dive into Atropos' ever-shifting dangers, where every death is a new beginning. It's not just about the challenge; it's about the thrill of conquering the unknown. Show your love for the game that embodies courage and discovery like no other. Answer the call of the void and nominate Returnal now!
FAQ

Quick answers

Does this page include PC performance data?

Not yet. This page is already live in the catalog, but benchmark coverage still needs to be seeded before FPS estimation appears.

Is the score an official review score?

No. The SpecBeacon Score is an internal reaction signal. It is not copied from Metacritic, OpenCritic, Steam, or the publisher.

What matters most for getting more FPS?

In most cases, GPU choice and resolution move the estimate the most. CPU and RAM usually refine the result rather than replace the GPU signal.