Expert Advice for Navigating CS2, Made Simple for Macs

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Key Takeaways

• Mac users can still play Counter-Strike 2 on their devices using CrossOver, despite Valve discontinuing macOS support for the game.
• To install CrossOver, visit the CodeWeavers website and download the trial version or purchase the software.
• After installing CrossOver, download and install the Windows version of Steam, then search for and install Counter-Strike 2 from the Store section. Adjust CrossOver settings for optimal performance before launching the game.

Counter-Strike 2 has replaced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but unfortunately for Mac users, Valve has discontinued macOS support for its latest title, citing notably low player counts on the platform. But that doesn’t mean Mac users don’t have options. Here’s how to play the popular title on your Mac.

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Install CrossOver to Play Counter-Strike 2

Just because there is no native support for the game doesn’t mean you can’t play it. CrossOver allows you to run the Windows edition of Counter-Strike 2 on your Mac, ensuring you can still indulge in your preferred esports title. The first step to enjoying Counter-Strike 2 is then, naturally, to download and install CrossOver on your Mac. You can do so by following these steps:

1. Head over to theCodeWeavers website to download CrossOver. You can use the 14-day trial to test it out before committing to a purchase ($74).
2. Ensure your operating system is set tomacOS , then provide your name and email address. Finally, click onDownload Trial Now to initiate the download.
3. To complete the installation, simply double-click thecrossover.zip file you downloaded to extract the app. Subsequently, move theCrossOver app tothe Applications folder .
4. When you run the app for the first time, you’ll come across a prompt asking you to buy or try CrossOver. For now, you can select theTry Now option.

Download Steam and Install Counter-Strike 2

After successfully installing CrossOver, proceed to install the Windows version of Steam to access and download Counter-Strike 2. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to theInstall tab located in the bottom left corner of the CrossOver menu. You can either search forSteam using the search bar or directly choose it from the Popular Applications section.
2. Double-click on theSteam option and click on theInstall button.
   
3. CrossOver will initiate the automatic download of the Steam setup. Once the installation process starts, follow all subsequent prompts and agree to the License agreement.
4. Steam will now open automatically, and you can log in to your existing account or create a new one.
   
5. After logging into your Steam account, proceed to theStore section. Search for Counter-Strike 2, and initiate the download by clickingPlay Game on the store page and then selecting the Install button. You can alsorun the game from an external drive if you’re low on internal storage.
   

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Now, you simply need to be patient while Steam completes the download.

Configuring CrossOver for Counter-Strike 2

Before launching Counter-Strike 2, it’s essential to adjust settings in CrossOver to enhance performance and stability. You can do so by following these steps:

1. Close the Steam window, and open CrossOver again.
2. Select theSteam bottle and toggle onD3DMetal on the right. This will enablehardware acceleration via DirectX and translate all API calls to Metal.
   
3. Reopen Steam, go toLibrary , Control-click on Counter-Strike 2, and navigate toProperties > General .
4. Type in the following command under theLaunch Options field:
   -nojoy -+cl_forcepreload 1 -novid
   
5. Finally, click thePlay button to start the game. Note that during the first launch, it may take a couple of minutes for the game to start up.

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Expect some stuttering in your initial few games as shaders are being cached in the background. It’s advisable to start by playing a few matches against bots before diving into an online game.

Start Playing Counter-Strike 2 on Your Mac

Mac users need not be disheartened by the discontinuation of macOS support for Counter-Strike 2. Thanks to CrossOver, enjoying the successor to CS:GO on your Mac is still possible.

By following the steps outlined above, from installing CrossOver to configuring settings for optimal performance, you can successfully run Counter-Strike 2 and experience your favorite esports title on macOS.

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