Sublight System Requirements

Before you buy Sublight or install the free demo, match your machine to the official Steam system requirements. Sublight is a single-player space bullet heaven roguelike from CODEBREW SOFTWARE LTD, available on Windows and Linux (including SteamOS) for $11.99 in Early Access. Dense enemy swarms, auto-firing turrets, and particle-heavy bosses can stress mid-range GPUs—so a quick hardware check saves frustration.

This page mirrors the Steam-listed minimum and recommended specs, then adds honest Steam Deck notes and performance tips for captains who want smoother late-run fights. Pair it with the build planner checklist once your PC is ready, and return to the Tools Hub for other hangar helpers.

Windows system requirements

Spec	Minimum	Recommended
OS	Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer	Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer
Processor	Intel Core i3 (4th gen or newer) / AMD equivalent	Intel Core i7 (4th gen or newer) / AMD equivalent
Memory	4 GB RAM	8 GB RAM
Graphics	DX10, DX11, DX12 or Vulkan capable GPU	DX10, DX11, DX12 or Vulkan capable GPU
Storage	6 GB available space	6 GB available space

Notes for Windows captains

• Windows 10 21H1+ is the floor—older builds may fail to launch even if the CPU looks fine.
• 4 GB RAM is the published minimum; close browsers and Discord overlays if you sit near that floor during late nodes.
• The GPU line is deliberately broad (DirectX 10+ or Vulkan). Integrated graphics may run early sectors but often struggle when projectile counts spike.
• Keep at least 6 GB free; leave extra headroom for Steam downloads and shader caches.

Linux / SteamOS system requirements

Spec	Minimum	Recommended
OS	SteamOS 3.0, Ubuntu 20.04, or equivalent (64-bit)	SteamOS 3.6+, Ubuntu 22.04, or equivalent (64-bit)
Processor	Intel Core i5-4430 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (quad-core, x86-64)	Intel Core i7-7700 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Memory	4 GB RAM	8 GB RAM
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / AMD RX 470 — Vulkan required	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD RX 5500 XT
Storage	6 GB available space	6 GB available space

Notes for Linux captains

• Sublight ships with native Linux support—confirm you are launching the native build unless you intentionally use Proton for troubleshooting.
• Vulkan support is required on the Linux minimum GPU line. Very old cards without usable Vulkan drivers are a hard stop.
• SteamOS 3.6+ / Ubuntu 22.04 is the recommended OS baseline for fewer driver headaches.
• Distro hopping mid-Early Access is fine, but re-verify GPU drivers after major Mesa or proprietary driver upgrades.

Steam Deck and handheld notes

There is no confirmed official Steam Deck Verified / Playable rating published in our research at the time of writing. Do not assume Verified status just because the game supports SteamOS and Linux.

Practical guidance until Valve or the developer posts a formal Deck rating:

• Deck hardware sits near or above the Linux minimum GPU class for many lighter scenes, but bullet-heaven late games can still dip if effects stay maxed.
• Start on a balanced or performance TDP profile, 40–45 FPS target, and lower particle / post-process options first.
• Use the Sublight Demo on Deck before buying if you are unsure about thermals or readability on the handheld screen.
• Track community reports on Steam Discussions and official channels after patches—Early Access performance can improve quickly.

If you primarily play on Deck, keep this page bookmarked and re-check after major updates listed on the Updates Hub.

Performance tips for denser fights

Sublight’s fantasy is a fully armed warship chewing through swarms. That fantasy is GPU- and particle-heavy. Try these steps when FPS drops:

1. Cap framerate to a stable target (60 or 45) instead of chasing uncapped spikes that cause stutter.
2. Lower effects and particles before resolution—projectile clarity matters more than max shadows in a bullet heaven.
3. Disable unused overlays (extra Steam, Discord, or recording overlays) on 4–8 GB RAM systems.
4. Close background Chromium apps that sit on the GPU; salvage pickups and level-ups already create UI spikes.
5. Update GPU drivers (Game Ready / Adrenalin / Mesa) after OS upgrades.
6. Verify game files on Steam if stutter appears suddenly after a patch.
7. On laptops, plug in power and use a high-performance profile; thermal throttling feels like “random lag” mid-boss.
8. If only late nodes hitch, simplify builds that spam extreme projectile counts when testing hardware—then scale back up once stable. The build planner helps you plan intentional DPS without accidental particle storms.

Install checklist

• Confirm OS version (Windows 10 21H1+ or a supported 64-bit Linux/SteamOS build).
• Confirm at least 6 GB free disk space on the Steam library drive.
• Confirm GPU drivers expose DirectX 10+ (Windows) or Vulkan (Linux).
• Install the full game or the demo.
• Launch once at default settings, then adjust after a short combat node.
• Read Getting Started for controls and first-hour goals.
• Plan your first serious loadout with the build planner checklist.

Support and feedback

Hardware bugs and hard crashes belong on Steam Discussions or email to support@codebrewsoftware.com. For Discord, join via Steam community / official channels when the developer shares an invite—do not trust random third-party invite dumps. More destinations live on the Links Hub.

System requirements can change during Early Access. When Steam updates the tables, this wiki page will follow. Until then, treat the tables above as the launch baseline for September 2026 Early Access.