Raid: Shadow Legends Moves to a Newer Engine and Raises System Requirements
The engine bump is pitched as a performance and maintenance move; it also cuts off very old hardware and OS versions.
Plarium has released a Raid: Shadow Legends update that moves the turn-based collection RPG to a newer version of the Unity engine and, per the patch notes, ends support for older operating systems. The change affects the Windows PC client as well as the mobile builds, and it ships alongside new equipment systems.
According to Plarium’s notes, the update pairs the engine upgrade with general performance optimization work, and it introduces a new class of accessories whose usual HP, attack and defence substats are swapped for bonuses tied to specific game modes, plus a set of all-Legendary faction relics that grant faction-specific abilities on top of a main effect. The studio has also described a gear slot expansion in the same update.
The system-requirement change is the part most likely to affect existing players. Plarium’s notes indicate the game will no longer run on devices below certain OS versions, cutting off pre-2015-era Android and older macOS and iOS releases. PC players on very old Windows installations should confirm compatibility before updating, and anyone running the game on marginal hardware may see different memory use and load times after the engine change.
For desktop players, Raid is usually run through Plarium’s own PC client, Plarium Play, which many use to farm campaign and dungeon content in the background or across multiple instances. An engine version bump can change how that client behaves under load, so players who rely on multi-instance or long unattended sessions should test their setup after patching. Plarium has positioned the move as groundwork rather than a visible overhaul, saying it keeps the game maintainable on current tools and hardware. The new gear systems, by contrast, are aimed at players deep into the endgame who are looking for ways to push specific game modes further.
What this means for players
- Check your OS version against the new minimums before updating, especially on older Macs or budget Android tablets.
- The Unity upgrade is aimed at performance and long-term maintenance rather than adding features.
- New Anomalous Accessories and faction relics change endgame gearing; existing builds are not invalidated but new options exist.
- If you farm on PC through Plarium Play, retest multi-instance and background play after the update.
