Crysis 3 compatibility with Mac

CS11

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Mar 8, 2013
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Hei, I wanna know if Crysis 3 (for PC) can be played on Mac, or is there a version of this game for Mac or something like that? Just want to know if you can run it on Mac.
 
Solution
Hello, and welcome to Tom's Hardware!

Regardless of what anyone will tell you, the Mac OS (OS X) can run Windows based games through a free program called Wine. This, basically, makes a Windows virtual OS to run on top of UNIX-based operating systems. It does instantiate a bit of a performance hit, but it's your call whether or not you want to install Windows through Bootcamp or not.

The only limitation that a Mac really has is hardware. Typically, Macs have very high resolution screens, yet no discrete graphics card, which severely limits game performance.


TL;DR No, Macs don't play Windows games normally, but through Wine, you can.

Hope this helps! :)

i8myhippo

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May 20, 2012
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Hello, and welcome to Tom's Hardware!

Regardless of what anyone will tell you, the Mac OS (OS X) can run Windows based games through a free program called Wine. This, basically, makes a Windows virtual OS to run on top of UNIX-based operating systems. It does instantiate a bit of a performance hit, but it's your call whether or not you want to install Windows through Bootcamp or not.

The only limitation that a Mac really has is hardware. Typically, Macs have very high resolution screens, yet no discrete graphics card, which severely limits game performance.


TL;DR No, Macs don't play Windows games normally, but through Wine, you can.

Hope this helps! :)
 
Solution

i8myhippo

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If you can do us a favor and post specs for your mac, we can give a more detailed answer about how well the game will run. I believe at one point this could be done by clicking the top-left apple button, and "About this Mac".
 

CS11

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Well, I don`t have Mac. The thing is that 2 of my friends that are gonig to buy it have Macs. They wanted to know if they could run it. I have PC. And how can they download Wine in their Mac?
 

shindelins

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Apr 7, 2013
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You need to post your specs to see if your graphics and etc are compatible with the game through wine. I had the same question, and though i probably don't have substantial enough graphics for Crysis 3 I'd see if anyone would know:

MBP 13-inch, Early 2011
Processor 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB
Software OS X 10.8.2 (12C60)
 

voiidwulf

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Jun 11, 2012
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That's not really good enough for Crysis 3, sorry. The Intel HD 3000 is a fairly low end solution at the best of times, and it will take another performance hit if you are using Wine.
 

Nathaniel Pysklo

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May 21, 2013
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Will mine run it?

Processor 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB
MPB 17-inch, Early 2011

Also, Every time I try to use wine the Windows app I load never fully starts.
 

MrTomnus

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If your MacBook is a 13" model, chances are it won't be able to play many demanding games, the reason being like many others have mentioned that integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to do more than play HD video and 2D games, and play 3D games at low settings or resolutions. So the answer still is yes you could, but it probably wouldn't be worth it.

However 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models have dedicated graphics cards which can play 3D games at medium to high settings, depending on the game. Certainly Crysis 3 will be taxing on hardware, especially at native resolution. I currently play games with a 15" MacBook Pro (planning to build a pc for Christmas), and games like Minecraft, civ 5, walking dead, half life 2 and portal will run perfectly at native res. Using a wrapper like Wine will take a performance hit though, so make choices with a pinch of salt. I believe the wine website has a compatibility list for pretty much every game on steam, so compare the performance ratings for games on that list before you do it as it may not be worth it.

Also even if they buy the game on the steam, they will not be able to download it using the client as steam detects your OS and won't let you download a game that doesn't support the OS you are running. There could be workaround a that I'm not aware of though.
 

rojoyinc

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Mar 8, 2014
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I was checking for this game as well. I've been "A PC" since 1980 but last fall switched to Mac - then a better Mac once I learned how superior they are to my PC's.

Anyway - I prefer gaming and using the iMac. I have (upgrade the duo core for this quad core) 27" near retina display. and 6970M graphics card. I can't get bootcamp installed. My machine has 500gb SSD and 2TB internal so it doesn't like bootcamp. I have external DVD and it gives me problems with trying to install my Win8 original. After 3 days (And I'm a computer geek) no go. So I'm limited to using PARALLELS (not mentioned in the thread so far but AWESOME).

As to WINE - you get what you pay for. ITS FREE and (it sucks) it can run "some" pc games but with major performance hits and much tweaking. I have some wine wrapped games that will play on my quad core 3.1- 12gb ram. But I really dislike wine and cider. They are LAST RESORTS.

I run lots of games in parallels. I installed it and win8. I can run the Mac and Win8 at the same time - in full screen or side by side in windows. I can even run a Mac game and a PC windows game SIDE BY SIDE and have done it in super high res and posted a video on you tube. (Runnning F1 2012 on win) and Borderlands 2 on Mac both side by side running 60+ fps.

Parallels was on sale for 50 bucks a couple weeks ago. Still normal price is a very fair 79.00 or so.

A few PC games I run..

F1 2012
Warhammer 40k (space marines)
Call of duty Modern warfare 3 OMG this is good
Sailing simulator 5
Virtual Skipper
MASS EFFECT 2
Contrast
Call of Duty Modern warfare 2
Medal of Honor (also great one for a oldie)
SKYRIM (not one I like)
Assassins creed II

Because some don't work - I like to try a demo of the game (often from STEAM) first. I did this with Mass Effect 2. The demo ran fine so I bought the game. I also bought on Steam Tomb Raider but a week later it was released for Mac so I re-downloaded Mac version and deleted PC version - though PC version ran fine.

I'd like to try any of the CRYSIS games. But they either have to be on STEAM CHEAP on sale... or I need demo. Of course if they don't run on the Mac with Parallels I can always run them on one of my PC's. But I don't use those much so they're downstairs and I like to game on the iMac which is upstairs. I use to be a beta tester for Activision (paid with my name in the credits) I've also beta tested for Microsoft a bit. I've owned about 20 PC's (most built up by myself) since 1980 and said I'd never get a Mac. (I was given one as payment for a job I did) and a week later... I was hooked and I'll never buy another windows box.

Most everyone that I know who is (into computers pretty heavily) has gone Mac. I was told after a week of frustration I would be hooked. and they're right. I've been a Mac now since last summer.

macandwin8.jpg