Routine dropped on December 4, 2025 for Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass, sending players into a creepy 1980s-style lunar base full of hostile robots. This quick guide hits the Routine system requirements plus simple, no-spoiler tips to survive that brutal first hour.
| Setting | Specs |
|---|---|
| Minimum | i5-8600 / Ryzen 5 3600, 8 GB RAM, GTX 1060 / RX 570, Windows 10 64-bit, 10 GB storage |
| Recommended | i5-13600K / Ryzen 5 7600X, 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 / RX 5700, SSD suggested |
Routine system requirements and platforms
System requirements target mid-range PCs, with GTX 1060 or RX 570 set as the baseline. Minimum specs include an Intel Core i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600, 8 GB RAM, Windows 10 64-bit, DirectX 11, and around 10 GB of storage. For smoother play, the recommended loadout bumps up to an i5-13600K or Ryzen 5 7600X, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 2060 or RX 5700.
Routine launched at roughly $24.99 on Steam with a small launch discount, and it is also available day one on Xbox Game Pass for console and cloud. Steam Deck and GeForce Now support are confirmed, so handheld and streaming setups are fair game if the local hardware is weaker than the Routine system requirements. One thing to note on PC: some players report 4K resolution needing a restart or toggle before it sticks.
First-hour survival basics on the moon base
Routine wastes no time throwing Type-05 security robots at players, and these things can end a run in one or two hits. The C.A.T. tool can stun them briefly, but the effect is short and not meant for full combat, so treat it like a panic button instead of a primary weapon. The safer play in the opening hour is to focus on staying unseen, learning patrol routes, and backing out early if a room feels too risky.
Movement is slow and deliberate here. Crouch often, listen for metal footsteps and servo noises, and always know where to run before stepping into a new hallway. When a robot spots you, break line of sight fast—cut into side rooms, duck under furniture, or sprint toward familiar safe spots instead of freezing. Saving at terminals whenever possible helps, because checkpoints are sparse enough that careless deaths hurt progress.
Navigation without a HUD
Routine drops players into a HUD-free experience, so there is no minimap, no objective marker, and no clear health bar. Getting around the station means reading wall signs, paying attention to room names, and mentally mapping how areas link together. The 1980s sci-fi vibe runs deep, with chunky CRTs, analog switches, and a deliberately clunky C.A.T. interface that demands attention while enemies are still moving.
Lighting and audio do a lot of the navigation work. Some rooms are nearly pitch-black so the C.A.T. flashlight becomes essential, while other spaces are washed in flickering emergency lights and glitching monitors. Distant metal clangs, ventilation rattles, and radio static help identify zones and hint when something dangerous is nearby, especially when vision is limited.
C.A.T. upgrades and puzzle flow
The C.A.T. starts simple but unlocks more tools as players push deeper into the station. Early on, it mainly handles scanning and terminal interaction, but later upgrades let it manipulate power, locks, and other systems that gate progress. Puzzles lean on classic survival-horror patterns like hunting for door codes, reading terminal logs for clues, and backtracking to recheck areas after unlocking new C.A.T. functions.
Robot patrols keep puzzle-solving tense, since enemies rarely give much breathing room. If a hallway feels too hot, backing off and regrouping is usually better than trying to brute-force through with stuns. Many important codes and clues sit in awkward spots—under desks, high on walls, or buried in multi-page terminal logs—so the safe habit is to scan rooms thoroughly before moving on. With those patterns in mind and a rig that meets the Routine system requirements, that first hour becomes tough but manageable.
