Can You Play Counter Strike (CS2) On Mac?

Up until the long-awaited release of CS2, Mac users had no issues accessing their favorite game, but it all changed once Valve announced that they were dropping Mac support. For a short while, players were able to access the legacy version of CS:GO and to refund their Prime purchase, but not anymore. Unfortunately, you cannot play CS2 on Mac directly from Steam without a bit of fiddling around. In this article, we’ll explain how to play CS2 on a Mac device now that Valve has completely dropped macOS support.   

Can You Play Counter Strike (CS2) On Mac?

Well, kind of. Since Valve dropped the Mac support, you can no longer just download CS:GO and play it directly from Steam. However, there are a few workarounds, including running CS2 via Whisky, or playing CS2 via cloud-based service like GeForce Now. Read more to find out how.

Why is CS:GO and CS2 Not Available On Mac?

The absence of CS2 can be linked to several factors, including technical limitations and questionable return on investment. Developing and supporting a separate Mac version with all deriving difficulties would be quite a task for Valve. Source 2 engine is not optimized for macOS devices, Plus, considering that macOS users made up only 1.4% of all Steam user base, even with the new and improved Apple Silicon machines, developing a Mac version for such a minuscule portion would not be financially viable. 

Valve gave Mac users a small period of a few months to enjoy the legacy version of CS:GO or to refund their Prime purchase, and starting from January 2024, CS:GO is no longer available. RIP to our achievements.

How To Play CS:GO and CS2 On Mac?

Yes, there is a workaround that allows Mac users to play CS2. It is by no means a perfect solution, but nevertheless, it works. Here’s how to play CS2 on Mac-based devices:

1. Download and install the Whisky app

2. Launch it and create a new bottle using Windows 10

3. Download the official Steam Setup installer for Windows

4. Install it in the downloads folder

5. Exit Steam and check DXVK in bottle configuration

6. Find ‘Steam.exe’ in “Installed programs” and launch it, then login using your Steam credentials.

7. Install CS2

8. Once installed, go to CS2 properties, then general and set these options:

-nojoy -novid -console -low

If you want a simpler solution, then you might want to try GeForce Now, a cloud-based gaming service that will allow you to have a decent performance without too many stutters. Well, at least judging by the Reddit reviews from Mac players. The GeForce Now free tier provides an opportunity to play CS2 at no cost, however, this tier will take more time finding the right rig or queuing you up in matchmaking. 

Will CS2 Be on Mac? When Will CS2 Release on Mac 

There is a minuscule possibility of CS coming back to Mac if Apple decides to employ Vulkan cross-platform API somewhere in the future, but it is highly unlikely. Valve’s priority will always be Windows/Linux-based computers, even though Mac computers with Apple Silicon would be a decent option for Counter-Strike 2. Given the relatively low Mac playerbase, we do not expect either Valve or Apple to take steps towards the macOS release.

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