CS2 on Mac: How to Play Counter-Strike 2 on macOS

Most Counter-Strike fans play on PC – that’s a fact. But equally, there are many gamers who want to play CS2 on Mac, too, and that is more complicated than it sounds. Playing CS:GO on Mac used to be as easy as loading up the game, but since the transition to Counter-Strike 2, playing on macOS hasn’t been officially supported.

But that’s not the end of the conversation. CS2 on Mac is not just a case of “can’t do it” – there’s a bit more to it. So, can you play CS2 on Mac? Let’s see how it’s possible.

CS2 on Mac isn’t officially supported, so workarounds are needed

Valve’s decision to release no macOS version of CS2 was disappointing, but not world-ending for those committed to Apple’s ecosystem. Although Macs are now more powerful than ever, it seems some at Valve felt the investment to allow gamers to play CS2 on Mac simply wasn’t worth it.

That’s fine. Because yes, you can play CS2 on Mac, albeit with a few potential workarounds. Whichever works best for you, use it!

How to play CS2 on Mac

All methods you can use to play CS2 on macOS are below:

Boot Camp Assistant

Gamers with an Intel-based Mac can play CS2 via Boot Camp Assistant. With this tool, you can create a startup partition where you can fully install Windows. This means that whenever you want to play CS2 on Mac, you’ll need to load up your Windows partition. Naturally, you’ll need to purchase a copy of Windows to do this. After your new OS is installed, simply download Steam and CS2, and you’re good to go. No messing around with CS2 commands or settings required.

Compatibility Layer (CrossOver)

You can also use a compatibility layer such as CrossOver to play CS2 on Mac. This method is unfortunately paid, but it gets the job done. Install CrossOver, and click Counter-Strike 2 on the app. Then, download the game on Steam and close the application altogether. On CrossOver, enable D3DMetal and MSync for Steam. Finally, relaunch Steam and you’re all good to play CS2 on Mac! According to CodeWeavers, the only system requirements for this are “CrossOver 23.5 + macOS Sonoma running on Apple Silicon.”

Virtual Machines

Alternatively, you can always use a virtual machine such as Parallels Desktop to play Counter-Strike 2 on macOS. In your virtual machine, download Steam and CS2, then play. It’s pretty simple, but there is one major drawback to this. Performance of any virtual machine is always going to be pretty rough, especially when running a fairly intensive game like CS2 on Mac. Still, it’s technically possible, but you might have to tweak some CS2 settings to make it bearable.

Overall, of the three above methods, I’d recommend playing CS2 on Mac via Boot Camp Assistant. It takes a bit of time to set up Windows, but it’s the closest thing to native you’ll find. As a result, this will give you the best performance and reduce CS2 input lag, which should be at the top of your concerns.

Will CS2 ever release on Mac?

At this point, it feels unlikely that CS2 on Mac will ever be released natively. Valve made its original decision for a reason, and Mac/macOS hasn’t exactly become an industry leader in the gaming space since. Obviously, if this becomes a renewed focus for Apple in the future, then sure, CS2 on Mac is technically possible. But for now, these workarounds are the best solution.