Overview
- Mojang implemented the new requirements on July 21, 2026, raising the recommended system memory to 16GB and setting minimums at 8GB with a discrete GPU or 12GB with integrated graphics.
- The company specifies those 16GB as total system RAM and notes Java now reserves about 4GB by default so the rest supports the OS, launcher and background tasks.
- Mojang published performance targets that aim for 1080p at 30 FPS on the Fast preset as a minimum and 1080p at 60 FPS on the Fancy preset as the recommended experience.
- The change supports a technical transition from OpenGL to Vulkan—an experimental Vulkan renderer arrived in Java 26.2 on June 16—and OpenGL will remain available until Vulkan proves stable.
- Mojang lists modern CPU and GPU examples (for example Core i5-12400/Ryzen 5 5600/Apple M2 Pro and RTX 2060/RX 5600 XT/Arc A580) and advises players with older machines to switch to Bedrock or upgrade hardware to retain smooth performance.