StarCraft II system requirements and compatible PCs

Find our best selection of gaming PCs specifically spec'd for great performance when playing StarCraft II

StarCraft II System Requirements and Compatible PCs

StarCraft II launched in 2010 as the long-awaited sequel to Blizzard’s legendary real-time strategy (RTS) game. Over a decade later, it remains a beloved classic thanks to its deep strategy, competitive esports scene, and epic sci-fi storytelling.

Below you’ll find the system requirements needed to run StarCraft II — along with a list of Chillblast gaming PCs perfect for enjoying the game at any level.

System requirements

Component	Minimum requirements	Recommended requirements	Ideal requirements
CPU	Intel® Core™ 2 Duo or AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5600+	Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD FX Series Processor or better
Graphics	NVIDIA® GeForce® 7600 GT or ATI™ Radeon™ HD 2600 XT or Intel® HD Graphics 3000 or better	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 650 or AMD Radeon™ HD 7790 or better
RAM	2 GB RAM	4 GB RAM
Storage	30 GB available HD space	30 GB available HD space
Operating System	Windows® 7 / Windows® 8 / Windows® 10	Windows® 7 / Windows® 8 / Windows® 10	Windows® 7 / Windows® 8 / Windows® 10

Compatible gaming PCs

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Karve Ryzen 5 RTX 5060 Ti Gaming PC

£1,469.99

From £41.44 per month

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Graphics Card

NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti

Storage

2TB SSD

RAM

32GB DDR5 6000MT/s

Configure

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The Vantage Core i7 RTX 5070 Edge Gaming PC

£1,999.99

From £56.39 per month

CPU

Intel Core i7 14700KF

Graphics Card

NVIDIA RTX 5070

Storage

2TB SSD

RAM

64GB DDR5 6000MT/s

Configure

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The Frontier Ryzen 7 RTX 5070 Ti Edge Gaming PC

£2,349.99

From £66.25 per month

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Graphics Card

NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti

Storage

2TB SSD

RAM

64GB DDR5 5600MT/s

Configure

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The Verge Ryzen 9 RTX 5090 Water Cooled Gaming PC

£6,999.99

From £197.36 per month

CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Graphics Card

NVIDIA RTX 5090

Storage

4TB SSD

RAM

64GB DDR5 6000MT/s

In-game screenshot from StarCraft II showing a large-scale battle between Terran and Protoss units with explosions, lasers, and mechanical armies clashing on a futuristic battlefield.

Real-Time Strategy Gameplay

StarCraft II is a real-time strategy (RTS) game where players gather resources, build bases, and command massive armies. You control one of three unique factions — Terran, Protoss, or Zerg — each with its own units, strengths, and playstyle. Unlike turn-based strategy games, StarCraft II is about quick decision-making, macro/micro control, and reacting to your opponent in real time.

Whether you’re defending your base, expanding your economy, or micro-managing a fleet of flying units, the action never stops.

StarCraft II promotional artwork featuring Terran Marines in heavy power armour standing on a battlefield with bullet casings scattered around, a planet and flag in the background.

Epic Campaign and Story

StarCraft II is split into three campaigns:

Wings of Liberty (Terran-focused)
Heart of the Swarm (Zerg-focused)
Legacy of the Void (Protoss-focused)

Each campaign delivers high-quality storytelling, epic cutscenes, and varied mission objectives. You can play these in any order, but the full trilogy offers a cinematic space opera filled with war, betrayal, and survival.

Even better — Wings of Liberty is now free to play, giving new players a huge slice of the game without spending a penny.

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void booth at a gaming event, with players seated at monitors and large Protoss-themed artwork displayed in the background, hosted by Blizzard Entertainment.

Competitive Multiplayer and Esports

StarCraft II is one of the most respected esports titles in the world. Its 1v1 ladder is brutal, skill-based, and incredibly rewarding. Players can climb through leagues — from Bronze all the way to Grandmaster — in competitive ranked play.

With tight unit balance and a global player base, SC2’s multiplayer offers endless replayability. The StarCraft II World Championship Series (WCS) and events like IEM Katowice remain fixtures in the global esports calendar.

Even if you’re not into ranked play, SC2 features co-op missions, arcade modes, and custom games created by the community.

FAQs

Is StarCraft II free to play?

Yes! The base game, Wings of Liberty, is free to play. It includes the full Terran campaign, access to multiplayer (unranked and ranked after qualifying), co-op missions, and custom games.

What kind of game is StarCraft II?

StarCraft II is a real-time strategy (RTS) game. Players gather resources, build armies, and control units in real time to defeat their opponent through superior strategy and tactics.

Can I play StarCraft II offline?

Yes, StarCraft II includes offline access to campaigns and versus AI modes. However, you’ll need to go online to access multiplayer, co-op, and most community features.

How many campaigns are there in StarCraft II?

Wings of Liberty (Terran)
Heart of the Swarm (Zerg)
Legacy of the Void (Protoss)

Is StarCraft II good for beginners?

Yes. StarCraft II includes tutorials, AI matches, and co-op missions that help new players learn the basics before jumping into competitive play. However, the 1v1 ranked ladder has a high skill ceiling.

What races can you play in StarCraft II?

Terran – Human technology and adaptability
Zerg – Swarming alien creatures with fast reproduction
Protoss – Advanced alien warriors with powerful tech

Can I run StarCraft II on an older PC?

Yes — the game is optimized to run well on older systems. Even PCs with integrated graphics can handle low settings. For smoother performance, 8GB RAM and a dedicated GPU like the GTX 650 or better is recommended.

Does StarCraft II have an esports scene?

Absolutely. StarCraft II remains a staple in the RTS esports world, with major tournaments like IEM Katowice, ESL Open Cups, and the World Championship Series (WCS) attracting top-tier players globally.

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