Prototype
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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
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Prototype FPS by GPU
Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality
Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions
1080p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 857 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 999 fps | 929 fps | 755 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 904 fps | 734 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 854 fps | 694 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 973 fps | 778 fps | 632 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 999 fps | 879 fps | 703 fps | 571 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 941 fps | 753 fps | 603 fps | 490 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 683 fps | 546 fps | 437 fps | 355 fps |
1440p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 948 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 923 fps | 750 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 988 fps | 791 fps | 643 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 871 fps | 697 fps | 566 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 847 fps | 678 fps | 551 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 800 fps | 640 fps | 520 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 912 fps | 730 fps | 584 fps | 474 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 824 fps | 659 fps | 527 fps | 428 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 706 fps | 565 fps | 452 fps | 367 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 512 fps | 410 fps | 328 fps | 266 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 844 fps | 685 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 979 fps | 783 fps | 636 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 879 fps | 703 fps | 571 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 828 fps | 663 fps | 538 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 973 fps | 778 fps | 623 fps | 506 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 769 fps | 615 fps | 492 fps | 400 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 659 fps | 527 fps | 422 fps | 343 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 581 fps | 464 fps | 372 fps | 302 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 565 fps | 452 fps | 362 fps | 294 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 533 fps | 427 fps | 341 fps | 277 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 486 fps | 389 fps | 311 fps | 253 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 439 fps | 351 fps | 281 fps | 228 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 377 fps | 301 fps | 241 fps | 196 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 273 fps | 218 fps | 175 fps | 142 fps |
Where to buy
Prototype
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$19.99
Minimum Hardware
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Genres
About
Prototype (2009) is an open-world action-adventure game where you play as Alex Mercer, a virus-infected protagonist fighting to contain the BLACKLIGHT outbreak across Manhattan. The game combines fast-paced combat with parkour-style traversal and shapeshifting abilities that evolve throughout your campaign. It's notable for its fluid movement mechanics and over-the-top action sequences that defined mid-2000s PC gaming.
Prototype is quite accessible on modern hardware and won't strain your system. Most mid-range GPUs from the last decade can handle this game well at high settings, delivering smooth 60+ FPS at 1080p without difficulty. With a minimum CPU score around 154, even budget processors perform adequately. You can easily benchmark this title on older gaming rigs or adjust graphics settings to study performance scaling across different hardware tiers.
If you enjoy action games with inventive mechanics and don't mind a slightly dated visual presentation, Prototype is worth playing. With a respectable 74/100 rating, it offers entertaining gameplay despite its age, making it perfect for testing older or budget PC configurations.
Performance profile
June 2009 release. Prototype targets mid-2000s-to-early-2010s hardware — any modern entry-level GPU (GTX 1650 tier or newer integrated graphics) handles it at 1080p Ultra without breaking a sweat.
Prototype is a narrative-driven experience — a rock-solid 60 FPS is plenty. Prioritise resolution and image quality (AA, anisotropic filtering) over chasing high-refresh framerates.
Extremely light — Prototype runs at 60 FPS 1080p on any integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or a decade-old discrete card like the GTX 1050. A current-gen RTX 4060 pushes 4K Ultra without effort.
Storyline
The game follows Alexander J. Mercer (voiced by Barry Pepper) who wakes up in a morgue in the basement of Gentek, a genetic engineering company based in Manhattan, sending a pair of scientists that were just about to perform an autopsy running. Alex escapes, and witnesses the scientists being gunned down by military operatives. Alex is discovered and attacked. He survives bullets being fired into his chest, and leaps over a wall to safety. He soon discovers he now possesses powerful shapeshifting abilities, superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, senses, endurance, weaponry and the ability to "consume" people to gain their memories, skills and appearance. With no memory of his previous life, Alex decides to find and consume those related to the conspiracy in order to uncover the truth. During his quest, Alex faces two factions: the United States Marine Corps and Blackwatch, a Fort Detrick special forces unit dedicated to combating biological warfare; and the Infected, monsters created by a virus known as BLACKLIGHT that is overrunning Manhattan. Captain Robert Cross (voiced by Jeffrey Pierce), a Blackwatch officer, is given orders to find and contain Alex. Alex makes contact with his sister, Dana (voiced by Lake Bell), who assists him in tracking down targets, leading to the infiltration of Gentek headquarters. He finds a young woman called Elizabeth Greene contained in the building. Greene is a host for BLACKLIGHT and upon her escape unleashes it upon Manhattan. Dana directs Alex to Karen Parker, his ex-girlfriend. She agrees to aid him in stopping the virus, while requiring Alex to bring back samples of the virus. Karen later leads Alex into a trap, where he is confronted by Cross. During their battle, Alex almost defeated Cross when Cross mentioned 'Penn Station', triggering a flashback that leaves Alex dazed. Alex is injected with a parasite that threatens to kill him. Alex seeks help from Dr. Ragland, a pathologist linked to Gentek. Ragland helps Alex remove the parasite and turn it into a weapon against Greene. However, it has no effect on Greene as her body rejected the parasite immediately, and the rejected biomass forms a monstrous being, the Supreme Hunter, which Alex kills. The origins of the virus and Elizabeth Greene are uncovered through a contact: in 1969 the government tested the virus' predecessor in Hope, Idaho, designed to target predetermined races. The virus mutated into something far more deadly, and the whole population was infected. Elizabeth Greene was the sole survivor; an anomaly in her body's biology accepted the virus, rewriting her genetic code along with that of her unborn son, codenamed PARIAH. The remaining population of Hope, Idaho, was liquidated by Blackwatch. Greene and PARIAH were kept in captivity for further research. Alex discovers his own past: Blackwatch shut down the Gentek project due to leaks and ordered all project personnel eliminated. Alex Mercer took a sample of BLACKLIGHT as "insurance". Eventually pinned down by Blackwatch in Penn Station. Alex, in a final act of desperation and vengeance shatters the vial containing the BLACKLIGHT, releasing the virus before being gunned down. The virus entered Mercer's bloodstream through the bullet holes and repaired his body at the cellular level. The contact and Alex pump a new "BLOODTOX" biological agent underground in order to drive the virus above ground where it can be fought directly, causing Greene to emerge, encased in a towering monstrosity. Greene falls from the monster in human form once she is defeated, and is consumed by Alex. Through her memories, it becomes apparent that General Randall, head of Blackwatch, is prepared to destroy Manhattan with a nuclear weapon. The contact, revealed to be Cross. Alex with the Captains help, infiltrates the USS Ronald Reagan to stop Randall. Once Alex consumes Randall, Cross is revealed to be the Supreme Hunter, who assumed Cross' identity after consuming him, and attacks Alex, asserting that when Blackwatch leaves NYZ they will no longer be searching for infected, and that after he consumes Alex, he will then be strong enough survive the nuclear detonation. Alex defeats the Supreme Hunter and moves the weapon out into the Atlantic Ocean with a helicopter, where it detonates and catches him in the blast. His remains float back to the city and regenerate after consuming a crow. During the credits, it is revealed that the public considers the military to have been the one who stopped the infection; a US Senator is heard telling the media that the events in Manhattan were a case of nuclear and biological terrorism, and promises retribution upon those responsible. Alex, reflecting on the events that occurred and the truth he uncovered about himself, claims he has "become something less than human, but also something more". After the credits, Manhattan is shown to be slowly recovering, the virus has been almost completely eradicated. Alex, standing on top of the Reuters Building in Times Square, comments that his work is almost done.
