Microsoft recommends 32GB or RAM for Windows 11 gaming as a “No Worries” standard
Microsoft… Now’s a bad time to ask Windows users to upgrade their memory
Microsoft has raised the bar. 16GB of RAM is no longer what’s recommended for gaming. Now, 16GB is a “practical starting point“, with Microsoft recommending 32GB for a “no worries” gaming experience. This documentation was first spotted by Windows Latest.
Microsoft now wants to normalise 32GB of RAM as a solid, future-proof option that gives users “more breathing room”. Honestly, I think Microsoft would be better off saying nothing on this topic. After all, memory prices are atrocious right now, and recommending such a hardware upgrade right now is in poor taste. This is especially true given Microsoft’s “Windows K2” project, which aims to, among other things, reduce Windows 11’s memory usage.
Microsoft’s not wrong, but they are part of the problem
Microsoft has recommended “moving to 32GB” of RAM for users who run many background applications and want “more breathing room”. Discord has been specifically cited as a multitasking application. Right now, my Discord tab is using about 700 MB of RAM. Add on a few browser tabs, game launchers, and other apps, and it’s easy to see how 16GB systems can be overwhelmed.
While Microsoft isn’t explicitly saying that PC gamers need 32GB of RAM, they are saying that 16GB is no longer enough. 16GB is now a “practical starting point”, and not good for users who also use non-gaming apps on their systems.
Many modern Windows apps are web-based and, as a result, are very memory-intensive. Last year, Meta retired its native Windows app for WhatsApp and replaced it with a web-based version. This resulted in the app’s idle memory usage increasing from 100 MB to around 1 GB. Apps like this are significantly raising memory requirements. What’s worse is that Windows now includes web UI elements, making it needlessly memory-hungry.
16GB RAM is the baseline; 32GB is the “no worries” upgrade
For most players, 16GB RAM is a practical starting point. Moving to 32GB RAM helps if you run Discord, browsers, or streaming tools alongside your games. That extra memory also gives newer titles more breathing room as memory demands continue to rise.
– Microsoft
PC gamers need an SSD, not an HDD
With all modern consoles using SSD storage, it makes sense that the same is now expected from Microsoft for Windows. HDDs are slow and are best used for bulk storage. SSDs deliver faster loading times, faster game installs, and faster patching. All in all, the benefits of SSD storage are large enough to say that no PC gamer should use an HDD for their games. It’s simply a worse experience.
An SSD (not an HDD) for games and Windows
An SSD keeps your system feeling fast. Games load quicker, patches install sooner, and Windows stays responsive. HDDs (traditional hard drives) are best reserved for bulk storage. Active games and the OS should live on an SSD for the best experience.
– Microsoft
Microsoft knows that Windows has problems
During the company’s Q3 2026 earnings call, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, confirmed that “foundational work” was being done on Windows and the company’s other consumer applications. He acknowledged that Microsoft needed to “win back” Windows fans. That’s what “Windows K2” is all about.
Microsoft is right to call 16GB of RAM a “starting point” for PC gaming. Memory requirements are rising, and 16GB systems can be overwhelmed when games are played with memory-hungry background applications. Microsoft has acknowledged that Windows 11 needs to lower its baseline memory use, which means they know they are part of the problem. Microsoft also needs to work with Discord and other app makers to ensure their Windows apps are memory-efficient.
As it stands, Microsoft is asking its users to pay the price for its memory inefficiency. This is shameful at a time when memory is so expensive. Microsoft needs to work on this. While they are correct in saying that 32GB of memory will give PC gamers a “no worries” experience, they are the reason why 16GB is now a “practical starting point”.
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