How to play The Talos Principle 2 on Mac
Playing The Talos Principle 2 on Mac presents a challenge, as the game lacks native support. To bridge this gap, we explored various methods, testing their effectiveness and uncovering insights for fellow Mac gamers. The options included cloud services like Boosteroid and GeForce Now, as well as the more traditional routes of utilizing Boot Camp and CrossOver in conjunction with Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK). Each method brings its own set of advantages, catering to the diverse preferences and needs of Mac gamers.
The Talos Principle 2 Mac Methods and Instructions
If you’re ready to play The Talos Principle 2 on Mac, here are the methods you can use. Scroll further for a detailed review of our experience with each.
Boosteroid Cloud Gaming (Recommended method)
Features: Constant 1080p/60 FPS; Stable connection; Low bandwidth requirements (15 MBPS); Huge gaming library with all the latest AAA titles.
Pros
- Cheapest cloud-gaming option
- Compatible with all macs
- Hardware specs don’t matter
- You can play in your browser in about 15 minutes
Cons
- Requires a good internet connection
- You need to look if the game is supported with your chosen vendor
Extras: Here’s our review of Boosteroid with a comparison to GeForce Now; also check out our Boosteroid Games List.
For users pursuing a laid-back gaming experience on their Mac, Boosteroid takes the spotlight as a great suggestion. This gaming platform excels as the perfect option for those who want a simple and trouble-free approach to indulge in games on their Apple devices. Its notable strength lies in delivering a balance between visual excellence and performance, without the intricacies often tied to more sophisticated gaming setups.
- Click the “Play with Boosteroid” button to visit their site. Sign up for a new account or use your Google Account to log in.
- In the upper right of the homepage, select “My account”. Choose and activate a subscription plan under “My subscription”.
- To find your game, use the search feature. Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games.
GeForce Now
Pros
- Access to a vast library of games.
- High-quality graphics and performance.
- No need for powerful local hardware.
- Cross-platform support.
Cons
- Requires a stable and fast internet connection.
- Limited to supported games.
- Potential latency issues in online games.
- Requires a subscription for some features.
GeForce Now revolutionizes Mac gaming by providing a cloud gaming service that brings a vast array of games to your fingertips.
Note: Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games.
- GeForce Now emerges as a noteworthy gaming solution for Mac users, delivering a premium gaming experience without the need for high-end hardware. One of its standout features lies in NVIDIA’s handling of the processing, guaranteeing great graphics and seamless performance, even on older Mac models. The platform’s versatility is another commendable aspect, enabling users to seamlessly transition between their Mac, PC, and mobile devices while preserving their gaming progress—a valuable trait for those who enjoy gaming across various platforms.
- It’s crucial to highlight that the reliability of your internet connection plays a major role in ensuring a consistently smooth gaming experience on GeForce Now. Users should be aware that not all games are accessible on this platform, and certain premium features may necessitate a subscription fee, underscoring the importance of considering these factors before diving into the gaming experience on GeForce Now.
CrossOver + the Game Porting Toolkit
Pros
- It’s free
- Unlimited compatibility
- Stable and reliable
Cons
- Takes time to set up
- Takes tons of storage
Note: Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games.
Using Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK) to enable native Windows gaming on Mac can pose a challenging task. Yet, the integration of CrossOver with GPTK offers a potential avenue for users to navigate the intricacies tied to native Windows gaming on Mac with greater efficiency. This combo strives to deliver a smoother experience, minimizing the hurdles users may face when they try to bring Windows games into the macOS environment.
1. Visit the CrossOver site by clicking the button below, and download and install CrossOver.
2. Open CrossOver and create a new Bottle from the Bottle menu.
3. Right-click the newly-created bottle, click Install Software in Bottle, and then search for and install Steam (or another game launcher if you own the game elsewhere).
4. Make sure that D3DMetal option is enabled if you are about to play a DirectX 11 or 12 game, and then launch and log into Steam, find the game in your library, install it, and click Play.
Boot Camp
Features: Provides a native Windows 11 experience. Allows running all Windows-compatible programs and games as long as the Mac’s hardware can support them.
Note: Not available for Apple Silicon models.
Pros
- It’s free
- Unlimited compatibility
- Stable and reliable
Cons
- Takes time to set up
- Takes tons of storage
- Unavailable for M1/M2
Note: Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games.
Boot Camp is a tool that installs Windows on a dedicated partition and ensures a steady gaming experience on Macs, sidestepping compatibility issues.
- Opting for the Boot Camp method provides a notable benefit that offers a gaming environment closely mirroring the native setup. This translates to efficient utilization of your Mac’s resources, which contributes to a robust non-cloud gaming venture.
- However, Boot Camp does arrive with its share of downsides. The setup procedure is extensive, potentially challenging for less experienced Mac users. Additionally, it demands a significant chunk of available storage, and requires ample room for both the game and the complete Windows 10 OS. Another noteworthy drawback involves the inevitable heat generation within your Mac when employing this method for gaming, which is a concern for those prioritizing cooler operational conditions.
Is Cloud Gaming Viable For Playing The Talos Principle 2 on Mac?
For those eager to play The Talos Principle 2 on Mac, cloud gaming emerges as a promising solution that addresses compatibility issues and hardware constraints. The absence of a native macOS version is irrelevant, as the game is streamed, not locally processed. This means your Mac’s specifications don’t matter, which makes gaming accessible even for users with less powerful machines. The key factor for a smooth experience becomes only the quality of your internet connection.
However, cloud gaming introduces a potential drawback in the form of increased input and output delays, especially with lower internet speeds. This delay is often neglegable in many games, but it might pose a challenge for a fast-paced title like The Talos Principle 2. To check this in practice, we tested the game using two well-known cloud services – Boosteroid and GeForce Now and below we shared our experience.
Playing The Talos Principle 2 on Mac with Boosteroid
Boosteroid offers a maximum streaming quality of 1080p at 60 FPS and requires a minimum internet speed of 15 Mbps. Our 50 Mbps connection met this requirement and enabled a straightforward setup which took us just a few minutes. Once we found and launched the game, we adjusted the graphics settings to the maximum to test the servers’ capabilities fully.
To our delight, throughout our gameplay, Boosteroid consistently delivered the promised FPS with a sharp resolution. Occasional stuttering occurred due to momentary lag spikes, but the streaming quality quickly recovered, without leaving negative impacts on the overall experience which allowed us to have a good two-hour enjoyable gaming session.
Our The Talos Principle 2 Mac Experience with GeForce Now
Playing The Talos Principle 2 on Mac with GeForce Now wasn’t much different from our experience with Boosteroid. Setting up the game was simple, and the streaming quality matched the 1080p/60 FPS offered by our current plan. The internet requirement here is slightly higher, at 25 Mbps, but that is still manageable for most users.
During our test sessions, the game ran smoothly, consistently maintaining maximum resolution and FPS. GFN managed occasional network hiccups by preserving the FPS rates, but that was possible at the expense of decreased image quality. While intentional, this feature could be adjusted in the GFN client’s settings. Similar to Boosteroid, GeForce Now exhibited a slight input delay, not significantly affecting the overall gaming experience.
In conclusion, both cloud platforms, Boosteroid and GeForce Now, offered us viable solutions for Mac users looking to have a great The Talos Principle 2 Mac experience, but we generally favor Boosteroid for its affordability and its gaming library, which happens to have more of our favorite gaming titles.
Non-Cloud Methods to Play The Talos Principle 2 for Mac
For users who prefer alternatives to cloud gaming, there are two options that stand out for playing The Talos Principle 2 on Mac. The first method involves the well-known CrossOver app, equipped with translation layers designed to run Windows software seamlessly within macOS. The second option is Boot Camp, which directly installs Windows on Intel Macs, and enables users to run Windows programs and games natively. We tested these methods to evaluate their efficacy as alternatives to cloud gaming solutions and described our impressions below.
Playing The Talos Principle 2 for Mac with CrossOver: Compatibility and Performance
During our research on the methods available for playing The Talos Principle 2 for Mac, we came across conflicting reports regarding its playability with CrossOver + GPTK, therefore, we decided to make our own testing using an M2 Pro MacBook Pro. While some users reported graphical bugs and poor performance, our experience unfolded relatively smoothly on this machine and we encountered minimal issues.
A noticeable lag in the game’s menu was the primary hiccup, but the gameplay itself remained surprisingly smooth. Operating at Medium settings and 1080p resolution, we achieved a consistent 30+ FPS on average, with minor stutters which had minimal impact on the overall experience, which surpassed our expectations. Our choice of the D3DMetal translation layer in CrossOver enhanced performance, offering a superior alternative to the DXVK layer.
Playing The Talos Principle 2 on Mac with Boot Camp: Performance Overview
For users considering Boot Camp, the setup involves installing Windows on an Intel-based Mac, which essentially creates a Windows environment for running The Talos Principle 2. The process demands substantial time (1-2 hours) and requires a minimum of 150 GB of free space to accommodate both the game and the Windows OS.
Using Boot Camp on a 2019 MacBook Pro, we installed Windows 10 and downloaded The Talos Principle 2 without any problems. The absence of compatibility issues and unexpected bugs ensured a smooth start to the game, however, setting the grapics to low and reducing the resolution to 720p was necessary to achieve an average of 30 FPS. This made the gameplay playable but we had to sacrifice the visual appeal. Notably, the graphically demanding task caused the MacBook to heat up, which is a common occurrence for Intel-based MacBooks engaged in such tasks.
In conclusion, while local gaming methods like Boot Camp and CrossOver with GPTK offer a more integrated gaming experience, their downsides, including a lengthy setup process, substantial storage requirement, and overheating issues, make them less preferable compared to cloud gaming solutions. However, for users comfortable with these trade-offs, they remain valid options.
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