Does Returnal support ray tracing on PC?

Yes, the PC version of Returnal supports ray tracing on compatible Nvidia and AMD hardware, enabling more realistic reflections and lighting. Enabling ray tracing will noticeably impact performance and is best paired with a GPU at or above the RTX 2080 Ti / RX 6800 XT tier.

Why is an SSD required to play Returnal on PC?

Returnal's fast-paced roguelike design demands nearly instant respawns and rapid loading of complex environments. The game's asset streaming system relies on the high read speeds of an SSD; using a traditional hard drive is not supported and would cause stuttering, long load times, or crashes.

Can I Run Returnal on RX 7900 XTX?

Returnal FPS Benchmark and Performance Analysis

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTXGame: ReturnalUpdated: Apr 26, 2026

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX handles Returnal without major issues. Expect roughly 74 FPS at 1080p high — smooth for most players. Not sure whether AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX can keep up with Returnal? Below you'll find our performance projection at 1080p high along with 1440p scaling data.

Returnal FPS Benchmarks on RX 7900 XTX

Resolution	Settings Preset	Avg FPS	1% Low FPS	Verdict
1080p	Competitive (Low)	93 FPS	62 FPS	Good
1080p	High	74 FPS	49 FPS	Playable
1440p	High	55 FPS	35 FPS	Playable
1440p	Ultra	41 FPS	26 FPS	Low
4K	High	34 FPS	20 FPS	Low

Benchmarks are estimated by our performance engine. Actual results may vary.

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Best Settings for Returnal on RX 7900 XTX

74+FPS1080p Competitive

Display Mode: Fullscreen
Resolution: 1920×1080
V-Sync: Disabled
Texture Quality: Medium
Shadow Quality: Medium
Anti-Aliasing: FXAA
Effects Quality: Medium
Post-Processing: Medium
Ambient Occlusion: Disabled

Performance Analysis

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is estimated around 74 FPS at 1080p high in Returnal. At 1440p, that typically translates to around 55 FPS with similar quality targets. This places the card in the enthusiast tier for this title, with a playable experience profile. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX can run Returnal reliably, but smart setting choices matter for consistency.

Returnal is a visually demanding roguelike third-person shooter built on Unreal Engine 4, featuring highly detailed environments, large particle effects from its bullet-hell combat, and rapid scene transitions that stress both CPU and GPU. The game requires an SSD due to its seamless, fast-paced gameplay loop and quick respawn cycles that rely on rapid asset streaming. Ray tracing support and high-fidelity lighting push the recommended GPU tier significantly higher than the minimum.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX supports FSR 3 with Fluid Motion Frames in compatible titles. When Returnal supports FSR 3, Fluid Motion Frames can significantly boost the perceived frame rate on top of the base estimate shown above.

Use a medium/high mix and prioritize stable frame times over peak FPS spikes.
Ray tracing can be enabled with quality upscaling for a good visual/performance balance.
Prioritize texture quality and reduce volumetrics/shadows first

Bottom line: Returnal on AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is playable, and optimization has a measurable impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Returnal support ray tracing on PC?: Yes, the PC version of Returnal supports ray tracing on compatible Nvidia and AMD hardware, enabling more realistic reflections and lighting. Enabling ray tracing will noticeably impact performance and is best paired with a GPU at or above the RTX 2080 Ti / RX 6800 XT tier.
Why is an SSD required to play Returnal on PC?: Returnal's fast-paced roguelike design demands nearly instant respawns and rapid loading of complex environments. The game's asset streaming system relies on the high read speeds of an SSD; using a traditional hard drive is not supported and would cause stuttering, long load times, or crashes.