Split Fiction is the latest cooperative action-adventure game from Hazelight Studios, known for its innovative co-op experiences. It follows two writers, Mio and Zoe, who become trapped in their own fictional worlds after a machine designed to steal creative ideas malfunctions. The game is designed entirely around teamwork, making it an exciting choice for players who enjoy shared experiences. However, there’s no native Mac version, which means getting it to run requires some workarounds. I tested several methods – including cloud gaming, compatibility layers, and Boot Camp – to find out which ones actually let you play on a Mac.
Can You Play Split Fiction on Mac?
Not natively, but there are ways to make it work. If you’re on an Apple Silicon Mac, Boosteroid, GeForce Now, and CrossOver all provide viable options. Intel Macs have fewer choices, and Boot Camp only works on high-end desktop models like the Mac Pro or powerful iMacs with dedicated GPUs. Xbox Cloud Gaming isn’t an option, and GPTK/Whisky struggles to run the game in its current state, though future updates may improve compatibility. If you’re looking for the easiest way to play, cloud gaming services or CrossOver are your best bet, offering a balance between accessibility and performance.
How to Play Split Fiction on Mac
Since Split Fiction doesn’t have a native Mac version, getting it to run requires some extra steps. Fortunately, there are several reliable methods that let you play the game without needing a Windows PC. Below, I’ll walk you through the best options, including cloud gaming and Boot Camp, so you can find the right solution for your setup.
Play Split Fiction on Mac With Boosteroid
One of the easiest ways to play Split Fiction on a Mac is through Boosteroid, a cloud gaming service that lets you stream the game without installing anything. It works directly in your browser or through a dedicated macOS app, eliminating compatibility concerns. The only real requirement is a stable internet connection of at least 15 Mbps for smooth 1080p, 60 FPS gameplay. If your connection has higher latency, you might experience occasional stuttering or resolution drops, but the service automatically adjusts settings to keep gameplay as smooth as possible.
1. Here’s how to set up Split Fiction on Boosteroid
- 1.1Go to the Boosteroid website and create an account or sign in with Google.
- 1.2Click on your profile icon, go to Subscribe, and pick a plan that works for you.
- 1.3
Use the search bar to find Split Fiction, then click Play when it appears. - 1.4Press OK, Let’s go, and wait for the game to launch.
- 1.5Sign in with your game account, and Split Fiction will start streaming directly in your browser.
For an even smoother experience, consider downloading the Boosteroid macOS app, which provides slightly better streaming quality than the browser version. Boosteroid is a great choice for Mac users who want a quick and simple way to play without dealing with complex installations or hardware limitations.
How to Play Split Fiction on MacBook With GeForce Now
Another great option for Mac users is GeForce Now, which offers high-quality game streaming and flexible subscription plans. Unlike Boosteroid, it includes a free tier, though sessions are limited to one hour at a time. If you want longer play sessions and better visuals, upgrading to a premium plan is worth considering. To get the best experience, your internet speed should be at least 25 Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS.
2. Here’s how to set up Split Fiction on GeForce Now
- 2.1Head to the GeForce Now website, click Join Now, and sign up for a plan (free or paid).
- 2.2Visit the downloads page and install the GeForce Now macOS app.
- 2.3Drag the app into your Applications folder, then open it.
- 2.4Sign in, search for Split Fiction, and click Play to start streaming.
GeForce Now is an excellent alternative to Boosteroid, offering a more polished cloud gaming experience with support for high frame rates and resolutions on premium plans. It’s especially well-suited for MacBooks, where hardware limitations might make other solutions impractical. As long as you have a solid internet connection, this method allows you to play without worrying about performance issues.
How to Play Split Fiction on Mac M1/2/3 With CrossOver
Playing Split Fiction on a Mac isn’t as simple as downloading and launching the game, but with the right tools, it’s entirely possible. Since there’s no native macOS version, we’ll use CrossOver, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on macOS. I’ll walk you through the full setup, from installation to optimizing performance, so you can start playing with minimal hassle.
3. Here’s how to set up Split Fiction on CrossOver
- 3.1Download and Install CrossOver
To get started, you’ll need CrossOver, which translates Windows software to run on macOS. Follow these steps to install it:
– Go to the CrossOver website and download the latest version. If you’re unsure, try the 14-day free trial before purchasing.
– Once downloaded, drag CrossOver into your Applications folder and open it.
– If prompted, allow the installation of Rosetta 2, which enables CrossOver to function on Apple Silicon Macs.
– Select Try Now for the free trial, or enter your CodeWeavers account details if you’ve already purchased it.
– Before proceeding, close CrossOver to apply further optimizations. - 3.2Apply the Latest Compatibility Patch
For the best experience, we’ll install CX Patcher, which enables the latest D3DMetal translation layer for improved performance.
– Download CX Patcher from a trusted source such as GitHub.
– Locate the .zip file, extract it, and move CX Patcher to your Applications folder.
– Open CrossOver once, then close it before launching CX Patcher.
– If macOS blocks it, go to System Settings > Security & Privacy, find the alert, and click Open Anyway.
– Enter your Mac password when prompted, then type the required phrase to confirm you understand the risks. - 3.3Configure CrossOver for Split Fiction
Before installing the game, we need to tweak CrossOver’s settings to ensure better compatibility.
– Open CX Patcher and enable the following Advanced Options:
->Enable DXVK integration (for better graphics performance).
->Enable DXVK Async (to reduce stuttering).
->Use a separate bottle path (to keep files organized).
->Advertise AVX support (for improved CPU performance).
– Drag CrossOver into CX Patcher, then restart CrossOver to apply the changes. - 3.4Install Steam and Split Fiction
Now, we’ll install the Windows version of Steam through CrossOver to download the game.
– Open CrossOver, click Install a Windows Application, and search for Steam.
– Select Install, then follow the standard Windows setup.
– Log into your Steam account (or create one if you don’t have it yet).
– Search for Split Fiction, purchase or install it, and begin the download. - 3.5Adjust Game Settings for Best Performance
After installation, Split Fiction may not launch correctly due to default settings.
– Open Finder, go to Documents > My Games > Split Fiction.
– Locate the .ini configuration file and open it using TextEdit.
– Find the renderer type setting and change it from Vulkan to DirectX 12.
– Save the file, close TextEdit, and relaunch the game – it should now work properly.For a smoother experience, I recommend lowering graphics settings and enabling dynamic resolution scaling, which helps maintain a steady frame rate.
Once these steps are completed, you should be able to play Split Fiction on your Mac. If performance issues arise, tweaking settings, updating CrossOver, or experimenting with different configurations can help improve gameplay.
Split Fiction on Mac: Performance in CrossOver
Having tested Split Fiction on an Apple M4 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, 36GB RAM) and an M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 64GB RAM) using CrossOver 24, I can confirm that the game runs well but is highly dependent on resolution and scaling. At 1728×1117 with 1.0x composited rendering, the M4 Pro delivered an average of 74 FPS, with GPU utilization hovering around 13.5%.
However, increasing the resolution to 3024×1964 at 2.0x scaling dropped performance to 31 FPS, while GPU usage more than doubled to 32.5%. The M3 Max fared better, sustaining closer to 90 FPS at 1080p and around 40–45 FPS at 2.0x scaling, thanks to its extra GPU cores and higher memory bandwidth.
The biggest bottleneck appears to be CrossOver’s D3D12 translation layer, which introduces CPU overhead even on Apple’s powerful chips. Lower-end Apple Silicon Macs, like the base M3 or M2 models, will likely struggle at higher resolutions, with playable performance only at 1080p or lower settings.
On the other hand, M4 Max and M4 Ultra should handle 1440p+ resolutions more comfortably. Given the rapid improvements in macOS gaming and CrossOver’s optimization for D3D12 and Vulkan, performance may improve, but for now, Split Fiction is best played with proper resolution scaling and settings adjustments.
How to Play Split Fiction on Intel Mac With Boot Camp
If you have an Intel-based Mac, Boot Camp allows you to install Windows and run Split Fiction directly on your machine. However, this method only works well on high-end Intel Macs with dedicated GPUs, such as the Mac Pro or high-end iMacs. Lower-end Intel models, especially MacBooks with integrated graphics, will struggle with performance. If your Mac meets the necessary requirements, follow these steps to install the game through Boot Camp.
4. Here’s how to set up Split Fiction on Boot Camp
- 4.1Download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft’s official website.
- 4.2Open Boot Camp Assistant (found in Applications > Utilities).
- 4.3Click Continue, then choose the downloaded Windows ISO file.
- 4.4Allocate at least 100 GB of storage to the Windows partition and click Install.
- 4.5Confirm your selection – your Mac will restart and begin Windows setup.
- 4.6When prompted, choose “I don’t have a product key” and complete the installation.
- 4.7Once Windows is installed, download Split Fiction from the official store.
- 4.8Install the game, log in, and start playing within your new Windows environment.
Boot Camp provides native performance, unlike cloud gaming, but it requires a powerful Intel Mac to be viable. If you’re using a weaker Intel model, performance will likely be poor, making cloud gaming a better alternative.
Split Fiction on Intel Macs – Expected Performance With BootCamp
To evaluate Split Fiction on Intel-based Macs, I tested it on a 2019 Mac Pro (Intel Xeon W-3245, Radeon Pro W5700X, 96GB RAM) using BootCamp with Windows 10. Unlike CrossOver on Apple Silicon, which relies on D3D12 translation via Rosetta 2, BootCamp allows the game to run natively on Windows, reducing CPU overhead.
However, despite direct D3D12 support, performance was far from ideal. At 1080p with medium settings, the Mac Pro managed around 50–60 FPS, but increasing to 1440p saw FPS dip to 40–50. While the Radeon Pro W5700X is a capable GPU, it’s still not optimized for gaming, leading to subpar performance compared to similarly specced gaming PCs.
Given these results, other high-end Intel Macs with dedicated GPUs – such as the 2019 iMac (Radeon Vega 48) or iMac Pro (Vega 56/64) – should offer similar or slightly worse performance. The 2019 16” MacBook Pro with a Radeon 5500M or 5600M may struggle at 1080p, likely staying in the 30–45 FPS range.
Meanwhile, Intel Macs with integrated graphics, such as MacBook Airs or lower-end MacBook Pros, will be unplayable. While BootCamp provides better compatibility than CrossOver, aging Intel CPUs and weaker GPUs in most Intel Macs mean that Apple Silicon remains the better choice for playing Split Fiction on macOS.
Split Fiction on Mac: Conclusion
Playing Split Fiction on a Mac takes extra effort, but the results are worth it. Cloud gaming with Boosteroid or GeForce Now offers a fast, no-hassle way to jump in, while CrossOver provides a more direct experience if you prefer running the game locally. Boot Camp works for high-end Intel Macs, though most users will find cloud gaming or CrossOver more practical. While a native macOS version would be ideal, these methods prove that Mac users don’t have to sit this one out. With the right setup, Split Fiction runs smoothly, making it a solid option for Mac gamers.