System requirements
What Nucleus Co-op needs: Windows 10 or 11, the .NET Framework, Visual C++ runtimes, WebView2, an NTFS drive, and enough PC for one copy of the game per player.
On this page
Software
| You need | Why | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | Nucleus Co-op relies on Windows APIs to start, hook and place the game windows | - |
| .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later | The app runs on it | Included in Windows 10 (since version 1803) and Windows 11, otherwise Microsoft |
| Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable, x86 and x64 | The hooks and helper tools, in 32 and 64 bits | Nucleus offers to install them on first start, or x86 and x64 |
| Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime | The interface of Nucleus Co-op 3 | Already on Windows 11 and on up-to-date Windows 10; Nucleus offers to install it otherwise |
| An NTFS drive for Nucleus Co-op and your games | Most handlers use symbolic links, which exFAT and FAT32 can't store | - |
Some older games also need the
DirectX End-User Runtime (the June 2010 libraries,
which Windows doesn't include). Install it if a handler's notes ask for it or a game complains about a missing
d3dx9_*.dll or xinput1_3.dll.
Your games
- Installed once, from any store. Every player's copy runs from the same installation. Most handlers are made and tested with the Steam version of a game; the notes say when other versions (GOG, Epic) work too.
- Not from the Xbox app or Game Pass. Their protection stops Nucleus from running several copies.
- Run it once on its own first. Start the game normally, change a graphics setting, apply, and quit. That creates the config files many handlers edit.
Hardware
There is no fixed minimum: it depends on the game and on how many players you are. Each player runs a full copy of the game, so:
- Processor and memory grow with every player. As a rule of thumb, plan for the game's recommended specs plus about half again for every extra player, and close everything else.
- Graphics. All copies share one graphics card, but each draws a smaller window. Lowering texture quality and shadows, and capping the frame rate, usually makes room for more players. See Performance.
- Disk space. Copies are mostly links to the original files, so they take little space. A few handlers copy the whole game: their notes say so.
Inputs and screens
- One controller, or one keyboard and mouse, per player. Xbox controllers work as they are; PlayStation, Switch and generic controllers may need a helper. See Controllers.
- Any screen. One TV split between everyone, or one player per monitor. Display scaling at 100 % gives the most predictable windows: Nucleus can set it for the session (Settings › General › Set desktop scale to 100% during sessions).