Counterplay Games built Armatus on Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, specifically engine build version 5.6.1 according to technical documentation on PCGamingWiki. The third-person roguelite shooter leverages UE5 to create a demon-ravaged, gothic depiction of post-apocalyptic Paris.
Early public hands-on impressions and Steam playtests highlight how demanding this engine setup is on modern hardware, leading to notable hardware requirements and community discussions regarding optimization ahead of launch.
Engine Details and Technical Specifications
Counterplay Games, known previously for developing Godfall, utilizes modern rendering pipelines within Unreal Engine 5 to handle fast-paced combat, enemy density, and destructible elements.
Technical documentation reveals several key architectural and middleware components used in the project:
| Category | Specification / Integration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 | Engine build 5.6.1 verified on PCGamingWiki |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | Required on Windows platforms |
| Audio Middleware | Wwise | Handles environmental audio and combat SFX |
| Input Middleware | SDL2 | Manages cross-platform input processing |
| Controller Support | Native API / Steam Input | DualShock 4, DualSense, and XInput controllers |
Official System Requirements
Valve's Steam platform lists temporary system requirements intended for the Armatus demo build. Counterplay Games noted on the store page that these specifications will be updated as development nears the final launch.
| Requirement | Minimum Specification | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | Intel Core i9-10900K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage Space | 60 GB available space | 60 GB available space |
Early Demo Performance and Optimization Reports
During public testing and Steam demo events, players and video reviewers reported significant performance hurdles tied to the Unreal Engine 5 pipeline.
- File Size Concerns: The playable demo required roughly 58 GB of disk space. Players on Steam forums speculated whether assets remained uncompressed or shared roots with prior titles, prompting a developer response confirming that the team is working on reducing overall file size.
- Frame Rate and Stuttering: Players running mid-to-high tier rigs—such as Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 4070 Super GPUs—reported inconsistent frame pacing and frame drops down to 35–40 FPS during heavy combat encounters. Boss encounters, such as "The Monument," caused major framerate spikes when large numbers of flying minions and slow-inducing ground fields filled the arena.
- Upscaling and Settings: Video testers noted an absence of DLSS options in the early demo build. Users also reported heavy default motion blur, recommending that players set post-processing settings to "Low" to mitigate aggressive blur during camera sweeps.
- CPU Utilization: Steam community discussions observed high CPU temperatures and heavy thread loads, with several users noting smoother performance profiles on AMD processors compared to certain newer Intel chips during demo testing.
Target Platforms and Configuration File Paths
Armatus is slated for release on January 7, 2027, on Windows PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store (including Xbox Game Pass for PC). Consoles confirmed in media previews and discussions include PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2, though console performance targets remain unconfirmed.
For PC players needing to adjust or reset graphics settings outside the game, local game data defaults to the following directory:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Aperion\Saved\Config\Windows
Save game data is stored locally under:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Aperion\Saved\SaveGames
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game engine powers Armatus?
Armatus runs on Unreal Engine 5 (specifically build 5.6.1).
Does Armatus support DirectX 11?
No. The system requirements specify DirectX Version 12 as a baseline requirement on Windows.
Why was the Armatus demo download size so large?
The demo occupied approximately 58 to 60 GB of disk space. Counterplay Games publicly acknowledged this on the Steam forums, stating that the development team is actively working to reduce the installation footprint.
Does the Armatus demo support DLSS or frame generation?
Testers noted that DLSS settings were not present in the initial public demo. Future support for upscaling technologies in the final release has not yet been confirmed by the developers.
