Apple Silicon Macs Unleash Windows Gaming: Play Cyberpunk 2077, Diablo 4, Hogwarts Legacy, and More!

Apple’s transition to its own silicon (M1, M2, M3, and beyond) brought impressive performance and efficiency, but gaming remained a challenging frontier. While native macOS games exist, the vast library of Windows-exclusive titles was largely inaccessible. Now, thanks to Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit, and community-driven solutions like Whisky and CrossOver, the landscape of Mac gaming is rapidly evolving.

Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit is incredible. Using it to run the Windows Steam release of Sonic Superstars. No crashes, no graphical glitches, and runs flawlessly. The translation overhead is incredibly low, Apple’s chips are just powerhouses. pic.twitter.com/Ptw4dAGk87

— Michael (@NT1065) June 10, 2023

Game Porting Toolkit, CrossOver, and Whisky: Your Keys to Windows Gaming on Mac

Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK) is the foundation, built upon CrossOver (which uses Wine technology). It’s designed primarily for developers to evaluate how well their Windows games *could* run on macOS. It translates Windows APIs (like DirectX 11 and 12) into Metal (Apple’s graphics API). However, the gaming community has embraced it, creating user-friendly tools that leverage GPTK’s power.

CrossOver, a commercial product from CodeWeavers, has long been a solution for running Windows applications on macOS. CrossOver 24 and later versions incorporate improvements that significantly enhance game compatibility and performance, including updates to Wine. There are often discounts available, so check their website.

Whisky is a free, open-source project that simplifies the entire process. It bundles the Game Porting Toolkit and Wine into an easy-to-use application, eliminating much of the technical complexity. This makes it an excellent option for gamers who want a straightforward solution.

Which Games Are Playable? Expanding Horizons

The list of playable games is constantly growing. Here are some highlights:

• Cyberpunk 2077
• Diablo 4
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Elden Ring
• Spider-Man Remastered
• Horizon Zero Dawn (with CrossOver 24)
• Planet Zoo (with CrossOver 24)
• Anno 1800 (with CrossOver 24)
• And many more! (See the compatibility lists linked below)

Elden Ring. On Mac. pic.twitter.com/z5YoAEFjwx

— Andrew Tsai (@Andytizer) June 7, 2023

Performance varies depending on your Mac’s specs (M1, M2, M3, Pro, Max, Ultra), the game’s settings, and the specific game. However, many demanding titles achieve playable frame rates. Game Porting Toolkit 2, released in June 2024, even adds support for the AVX2 instruction set, opening the door for even *more* games that previously wouldn’t run.

Got Spider-Man Remastered running through the Game Porting Toolkit at a locked 60fps with a 4K resolution. Can go even faster if unlocked and/or resolution scaled down. This is on a 14” MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip. pic.twitter.com/d1qjJ8ePti

— Francisco Tolmasky (@tolmasky) June 10, 2023

How it Works: Translation, Not Emulation

It’s important to understand that this isn’t *native* gaming. The Game Porting Toolkit, CrossOver, and Whisky are *translation layers*, not emulators. Here’s a simplified explanation:

1. The Windows game tries to run as it would on a Windows PC.
2. The translation layer (GPTK/CrossOver/Whisky) intercepts calls to Windows APIs.
3. DirectX calls are converted to Metal calls.
4. macOS and the Apple Silicon chip execute the translated calls.

This translation adds overhead, but Apple Silicon’s power minimizes performance loss. Game Porting Toolkit 2 further improves compatibility and performance.

Getting Started: Resources and Tutorials

Ready to dive in? Here are some helpful resources:

• Whisky: Whisky GitHub Page (for downloads and instructions)
• CrossOver: CodeWeavers Website (for purchase and information)
• Apple Game Porting Toolkit: Apple Developer Page (for the toolkit and documentation – primarily for developers)
• Game Compatibility Lists:
  • AppleGamingWiki – Game Porting Toolkit
  • Mac Gamer HQ – Apple Game Porting Toolkit

Example: Installing a Game with Whisky (Simplified)

1. Download and install Whisky.
2. Create a new “bottle” (a virtual Windows environment).
3. Install your game launcher (e.g., Steam) within the bottle.
4. Download and install your game through the launcher.

Detailed tutorials are available on YouTube and various tech blogs (see links above). The process can involve some command-line work if you’re using the raw Game Porting Toolkit, but Whisky greatly simplifies this.

YouTube Video Tutorials

For visual learners, here are some helpful YouTube videos:

The Future of Mac Gaming: A Bright Horizon

This is a major leap for Mac gaming. While native ports are always preferable, the ability to run a vast library of Windows games significantly expands options for Mac users. Apple’s continued development of the Game Porting Toolkit, along with community efforts, suggests a promising future. Game Porting Toolkit 2’s support for features like ray tracing and the AVX2 instruction set shows Apple’s commitment to improving the gaming experience.

Key Takeaways

• Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit, CrossOver, and Whisky enable Windows games on Apple Silicon Macs.
• Game Porting Toolkit 2 adds AVX2 support and performance improvements.
• Whisky provides a user-friendly way to use the Game Porting Toolkit.
• CrossOver offers a commercial, polished solution with ongoing updates.
• The list of compatible games is growing rapidly.
• This marks a significant step forward for gaming on the Mac platform.

Additional Community Links

• Reddit: r/macgaming – https://www.reddit.com/r/macgaming/ (for discussions, troubleshooting, and game compatibility reports)