How to play ARK: Survival Ascended on Mac

Game Overview

ARK: Survival Ascended is an immersive survival game that offers players a dynamic and challenging experience set in a prehistoric world teeming with dinosaurs and other primeval creatures. Players must gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters to survive against both environmental threats and hostile wildlife. The game emphasizes exploration and teamwork, encouraging players to form tribes and collaborate to tame and ride dinosaurs, which can be used for travel, combat, and resource gathering. Its popularity stems from its intricate ecosystems, detailed world-building, and the thrill of survival in a constantly evolving landscape. The vast open-world environment invites players to engage in strategic planning and resource management while they unravel the mysteries of ancient ruins and uncover the lore of the island. The multiplayer aspect further enhances its appeal, as players can engage in both cooperative and competitive gameplay, forging alliances or waging epic battles against rival tribes. Stunning graphics and a compelling narrative keep players invested, making it a favorite among survival game enthusiasts. While ARK: Survival Ascended is primarily available on platforms like PC and consoles, running it on a Mac may require additional steps, such as using software to support Windows applications, as it is not natively supported on macOS. Players interested in experiencing the game on a Mac should ensure their system meets the necessary specifications and consider using services like cloud gaming or compatibility tools to enjoy the game seamlessly.

1. Play ARK: Survival Ascended on cloud gaming services (Xbox Cloud and GeForce Now)

Cloud gaming platforms stream games from remote servers, offering high performance without demanding hardware. Cloud gaming services are expanding the accessibility of gaming by eliminating many of the traditional barriers, such as the need for constant hardware upgrades and the initial cost of games. As internet speeds increase and technology advances, cloud gaming continues to grow as a popular alternative to traditional console and PC gaming.

Xbox Cloud

Xbox Cloud (formerly known as Project xCloud) is Microsoft’s cloud gaming service that enables players to stream a variety of Xbox games directly to their devices, such as smartphones, tablets, PCs, and consoles. This service is integrated with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, providing subscribers access to a vast library of games without the need for downloading them. Xbox Cloud Gaming supports playing games on the go with a compatible controller and a stable internet connection, offering the convenience of continuing your gaming session across multiple devices. It leverages Microsoft’s global network of Azure data centers to deliver low-latency gaming experiences, making it possible to play high-quality Xbox titles almost anywhere. Here’s a simplified guide to playing ARK: Survival Ascended on Xbox Cloud Gaming:

1. Get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – subscribe via the Xbox website.
2. Xbox Cloud Gaming works on macOS through supported browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome.
3. Open your browser and go to the Xbox Cloud Gaming website. Log into your Microsoft account that’s associated with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
4. Find ARK: Survival Ascended in the cloud gaming section and click Play.
5. Stream and play ARK: Survival Ascended directly on your Mac.

Note: Boosteroid streams games seamlessly, making it accessible on most internet-connected devices.

GeForce Now

GeForce Now is a cloud gaming service developed by NVIDIA that allows users to stream video games to their devices, leveraging NVIDIA’s powerful cloud-based GPU servers. This service enables gamers to play their own games from popular digital libraries such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and Uplay on virtually any device, including PCs, Macs, Shield TVs, and mobile devices. GeForce Now differentiates itself by not requiring users to purchase games from a specific library, instead allowing them to play games they already own, provided those games are supported on the service. It offers various membership tiers, including a free option and a premium subscription that provides enhanced graphics with RTX technology, reduced waiting times, and extended session lengths.

1. Register for a GeForce Now account on their website. Choose between free or premium plans.
2. Install the GeForce Now app on your chosen device (PC, Mac, or mobile).
3. Use the search feature in the app to locate ARK: Survival Ascended.
4. Click Play on ARK: Survival Ascended within the app to begin streaming the game.

3. Use Boot Camp (for Intel-based Macs only)

Note: Boot Camp is not supported on Macs with M1/M2/M3 chips.

Boot Camp is a utility software included with macOS that allows users to install and run Windows on Macintosh computers in a dual-boot configuration. By partitioning the computer’s hard drive, Boot Camp enables a Mac to boot either into macOS or Windows, providing full system performance for Windows as it runs natively on the hardware. This solution is ideal for Mac users who need to run Windows applications that do not have macOS versions or who require the performance benefits of running certain programs directly on the hardware without virtualization overhead. Boot Camp simplifies the installation process, guiding users through the setup with step-by-step instructions and making it straightforward to switch between operating systems.

1. Get the Windows 10 ISO file (Windows 11 ISO file) from the Microsoft website. Choose the version that matches your license.
2. Find Boot Camp in the Utilities folder within your Applications. Open it to start the setup.
3. Use Boot Camp Assistant to allocate space on your hard drive for Windows. Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust the partition size.
4. Follow the prompts in Boot Camp Assistant to begin the Windows installation. Your Mac will reboot into the Windows setup.
5. During the Windows installation, choose the BOOTCAMP partition and format it.
6. Complete the installation by following the Windows setup instructions.
7. To switch between macOS and Windows, restart your Mac and hold the Option key to select the operating system you want to use.
8. Once Windows is installed, set up ARK: Survival Ascended like on any PC.

Why users cannot run ARK: Survival Ascended on Mac via Crossover or Parallels?

ARK: Survival Ascended, the remastered edition of the popular survival game, presents a unique set of challenges for Mac users attempting to run it through compatibility layers like Crossover or virtual machines like Parallels. One primary hurdle is the game’s reliance on advanced graphics and processing capabilities, which are often optimized for Windows-based systems. Crossover and Parallels, while adept at running many Windows applications on macOS, may struggle with the complex rendering and performance demands of ARK: Survival Ascended. This is compounded by the fact that these compatibility solutions can introduce additional overhead, potentially leading to suboptimal performance or graphical glitches. Furthermore, direct support for the latest DirectX versions and other Windows-specific APIs may not be fully replicated by these tools, resulting in compatibility issues. Consequently, Mac users looking to enjoy ARK: Survival Ascended might face significant limitations unless the game receives a native macOS version or the compatibility tools evolve to better support such demanding applications.