So, you have your trusty, old Mac or perhaps the latest model. Sleek, reliable, and great for editing photos, writing essays, and office work. Plus, it lets you enjoy excessive Netflix and chill. But one day, you get tired of all this, and a question hits you: Can this Mac of mine run Steam?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but with a few ifs and buts, a sprinkle of patience, and slightly lower expectations.
Can Macs Run Steam?
A little hint: Based on MacPaw, Steam is a popular platform to get some of the best games out there. It did start on PC, but it has been available as an app for Mac since 2010. So, you get it now? If not, continue reading.
Steam, Valve’s digital game store and launcher, does support macOS. In short, you can install it on your Mac, create an account, and play as many games as you want.
However, everything comes with a catch, and here is the kicker: not every game on Steam runs on Mac. First off, developers of every game decide which platforms to support, and sadly, not many of them prioritize macOS. Yup, Windows supremacy at its finest.
Nevertheless, I am sure there are still plenty of options to choose from when you feel the desire to play.
Also worth noting: According to Steam Support, Steam will continue to work after macOS 10.15 Catalina as there is already an application that is 64-bit. However, if you are using this, you can only access titles that match the bitrate.
Download Steam on Your Mac (It’s easier than assembling IKEA furniture)
Here is an easy-to-follow guide:
- Go to store.steampowered.com using a browser.
- Click “Install Steam” and download the macOS version.
- Launch the installer, then drag Steam into your application folder.
- Open Steam and let it update.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Start searching for Mac-compatible games (Tip: Use the filter to avoid disappointment. Trust me on this one).
What Happens Next?
Basically, you start playing. But honestly, it’s more complicated than that. Steam is like a digital arcade, but to enjoy it, you need to double-check every game’s compatibility with your system. In addition, some titles are demanding even for Mac devices.
On the other hand, in terms of performance, you should be fine when playing mid-their titles or lower. Anything above that, I can’t promise you anything. However, you can always tweak the graphics settings.
Final Thoughts
Steam can definitely run on Macs. It’s just that you have to set your expectations as you cannot access everything. Once you accept that, the experience will get a lot better. After all, Steam on Mac is a pretty way to kick-start your gaming era. Your Mac can game. Who knew?
