How to play Elden Ring (Shadow of the Erdtree) on Mac

Game Overview

Elden Ring is a fantasy action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released on February 25, 2022, the game is set in a vast open world known as the Lands Between, which is rich in lore and history. The game was created in collaboration with acclaimed author George R.R. Martin, who helped write the backstory. In Elden Ring, players take on the role of a Tarnished, an immortal warrior who has been summoned back to the Lands Between to restore the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord. The Elden Ring itself is a powerful artifact that was shattered, leading to a devastating war known as the Shattering. The game features a complex narrative with multiple demigods, each holding a piece of the Elden Ring, and players must defeat these demigods to reclaim the pieces and restore order. Elden Ring combines the challenging combat mechanics of FromSoftware’s previous titles, such as Dark Souls and Bloodborne, with an expansive open world. Players can explore various regions, each with its own unique environments, enemies, and secrets. The game offers a high degree of freedom, allowing players to tackle challenges in multiple ways, whether through direct combat, stealth, or summoning spirits to assist in battles.

What’s new in Shadow of the Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and likely only DLC expansion for Elden Ring, set to release on June 21, 2024. This expansion introduces a host of new features and content to the base game. The expansion includes an inventory overhaul, adding a “Recent Items” tab to track recently acquired items and marking newly obtained items with an exclamation point for easy identification. Summoning Pools will now carry over into New Game Plus cycles, and players can enable or disable individual summoning pools through a new Map Functions Menu. Additionally, five new hairstyles have been added, accessible through character creation or using the Clouded Mirror Stand or Rennala’s Rebirth feature. The DLC also introduces over 100 new weapons, including eight new weapon categories such as Martial Arts, which allows for bare-handed combat with heavy punches and kicks. Players will encounter more than 10 new bosses and explore a new map larger than Limgrave, featuring interconnected field areas and dungeons.

Running Elden Ring on a Mac can be challenging due to the game’s reliance on DirectX 12, which is not natively supported on macOS. However, there are several methods to play the game on a Mac. CrossOver 23.5 supports DirectX 12 games and can run Elden Ring on macOS Sonoma on Apple Silicon machines. This method does not require a Windows license and simplifies the setup process. The Game Porting Toolkit allows users to run Windows games on macOS by setting up command lines and bypassing Easy Anti-Cheat, though it requires macOS Sonoma and involves a more complex setup process. Running Elden Ring via Bootcamp on Intel-based Macs is possible, but may not provide optimal performance. Virtualization tools like Parallels are generally not recommended as they struggle with DirectX 12 support. Alternatively, cloud gaming services like Boosteroid or AirGPU can stream the game to a Mac, providing a viable option for those who do not want to deal with complex setups.

1. Play Elden Ring with CrossOver via Steam

Game runs better with Game Porting Toolkit 2.0. Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK) 2.0 introduces several significant enhancements aimed at improving the gaming experience on Apple devices. Key updates include support for ray tracing, the AVX2 instruction set, and improved graphics and compute compatibility, which collectively enhance performance and visual fidelity. The toolkit also offers an expanded set of game technologies and tools for debugging and profiling games using Metal tools like Metal HUD, Metal GPU capture, and Metal System Trace. These improvements make it easier to port and optimize Windows games for Mac.

CrossOver is a software tool that enables users to run Windows applications on macOS and Linux without needing a Windows operating system license. It is based on the popular open-source Wine project and works by translating Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly, eliminating the performance and resource penalties of virtual machines. With CrossOver, users can seamlessly integrate Windows applications into their native environment, running them as if they were native applications on their Mac or Linux systems. This software is especially useful for those who need access to certain Windows-only programs for business, education, or gaming purposes, providing a streamlined and efficient solution without the complexity of dual-booting or maintaining a separate Windows installation. Here’s how to play Elden Ring using CrossOver through Steam:

1. Visit the CrossOver website, purchase the software, and download it. Install CrossOver on your Mac by dragging it into the Applications folder.
2. Open CrossOver, click Install a Windows Application, and select Steam from the list. Follow the prompts to install.
3. On the right side, in the Advanced Settings, switch D3DMetal and MSync toggles.
4. Launch Steam within CrossOver, log into your Steam account, find Elden Ring in the Steam store, and install it.
5. Navigate to the Library in Steam, find Elden Ring, and click Play to start your simulation.

Install a Windows Application -> Steam

Install Steam on Mac via Crossover

2. Play Elden Ring on cloud gaming services (Boosteroid and AirGPU)

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.

Boosteroid

Boosteroid is a cloud gaming platform that allows users to play video games directly from the cloud on various devices, including PCs, smartphones, and smart TVs. This service provides access to a wide range of games without the need for powerful hardware. With Boosteroid, gamers can stream their favorite games over the internet, bypassing the need for downloading or updating games locally. The platform operates on a subscription model, offering different tiers to accommodate various user needs and preferences. Boosteroid is known for its ease of use, enabling seamless gaming experiences across different operating systems and devices, promoting greater accessibility and convenience for gamers worldwide.

1. Visit Boosteroid, sign up, and subscribe.
2. Search for the Elden Ring game and play directly in your web browser.

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

AirGPU

AirGPU is a cloud gaming service that offers users the ability to rent high-performance virtual gaming PCs on demand. This platform enables gamers to stream the latest and most demanding games directly to their devices without the need for high-end local hardware. AirGPU provides a flexible rental model, allowing users to pay by the hour for access to powerful gaming rigs equipped with top-tier graphics and processing capabilities. The service supports a variety of devices including desktops, laptops, and some tablets, ensuring that users can enjoy a premium gaming experience from virtually anywhere. AirGPU stands out by offering personalized settings and configurations, giving gamers the freedom to customize their virtual machines to meet specific gaming needs.

1. Sign up at AirGPU and rent a high-performance virtual PC.
2. Connect to your cloud PC, install Elden Ring from any digital platform.
3. Enjoy the game with high-quality graphics.

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 Elden Ring like on any PC.