Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition: PC requirements and the PC you need
Strategy
Cover artwork © the game's publisher.
About Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition
Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition is a strategy game, made by CREATIVE ASSEMBLY, Feral Interactive (Mac) and Feral Interactive (Linux) and published by SEGA, Feral Interactive (Mac) and Feral Interactive (Linux). It came out on 4 Mar 2009. You can play it single player, multiplayer, player versus player, online player versus player, LAN play, co-op or online co-op. It is rated PEGI 16.
What Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition needs
In plain words: to play at all it needs almost any graphics, even the graphics built into the processor, with at least 1GB of memory.
| Part | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 2.0 support, 256 MB video memory | Not published |
| Processor | 2.4 GHz Intel® Pentium® or greater or AMD® Athlon® equivalent CPU | Not published |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 GB RAM (XP,) 2 GB RAM (Vista™) | Not published |
| Storage | 15 GB free hard disk space formatted as NTFS | Not published |
From the Steam store page, checked 16 October 2026. The makers sometimes change these; their page is always right.
Will my computer play Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition?
On most computers we find the graphics card for you. Add your processor and memory, and we will tell you if it plays, and what to upgrade if not.
A low-spec PC or a high-spec PC?
This is a light game: almost any of our gaming PCs will run it comfortably.
On a PC that only just meets the minimum, the game will start and play, but on low settings: simpler shadows and textures, shorter view distances and fewer frames each second, so fast moments can feel less smooth. A 1080p screen is the sensible match.
On a PC that meets or beats the recommended spec, you can turn the settings up: sharper textures, proper shadows and lighting, more detail in the distance, and a smoother picture. A stronger PC also lets you use a sharper 1440p or high-refresh screen.
Our PCs that meet the published spec
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Snowflake 3400G refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 3400G + Radeon Vega 11 (built in)
No separate graphics card: good for Minecraft for Windows, Roblox, Fortnite at low settings, and everyday use. A graphics card can be added later.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
- Graphics
- Radeon Vega 11 graphics built into the processor
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested)
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£489
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays on low settings
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- Dota 2 Plays well
- Grand Theft Auto V Legacy Plays well
- Terraria Plays well
- Garry's Mod Plays well
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Robin 3400G 1060 refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1060
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested) + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£599
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
- Call of Duty® Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Typhoon 1060X refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 4500 + GTX 1060
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (6 cores, 12 threads)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 256GB SSD + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£609
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft: Java Edition Plays on low settings
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Questions about Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition on PC
What graphics card do I need for Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition?
The makers say the minimum is 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 2.0 support, 256 MB video memory. In plain words: almost any graphics, even the graphics built into the processor for a good experience.
How much memory (RAM) does Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition need?
At least 1GB. 16GB is the sensible amount for a gaming PC today.
Is Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition multiplayer?
Yes. You can play it single player, multiplayer, player versus player, online player versus player, LAN play, co-op or online co-op.
Can a gaming PC from Sandbox Computers run Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition?
Our PCs meet the minimum spec. Ask us and we will suggest one that runs it well.
How we match: we compare the graphics card and the memory in each PC with the makers' spec, because those decide most of how a game runs. For very new or demanding games, ask us and we will check the processor too. More help: graphics cards explained, how much RAM, which screen.