FAQ
FAQ Regarding Porting Kit
Generally support starts from Mac OS 10.15.7 and Higher. However, there are a large number of GOG.com games which are still compatible with Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.x and Mojave 10.14.x, but check this in the game description of the game ports.
So all Steam/Ubisoft Connect/Origin games are only supported on Mac OS Catalina 10.15.7 and higher.
Unfortunately no. Wine is in continuing development, so not everything will work. If the game is not in the "all games" or "All Apps" database, then the game is not tested or not working for Mac yet. If the game is not in the database does not directly mean it doesn't work. Use a custom port or one of the 3 "Steambuilds" (DXVK/Metal/Direct3D) in the game database to test your games which are not in the game database.
Yes! Most games in the database work on Apple Silicon Mac's, however there are are still a range of especial more legacy games (directx9) which may work more slow, then on intel based Macs or even not work at all. Check the port information for info about that. Many ports are tested on Apple Silicon Mac and will clearly mention this in the port description. When there is no info mentioned in the specific port, then the game has not been tested yet on Apple Silicon Macs.
There are also some resolution issues on the latest Apple Silicon MacBook Pro’s (these don’t support low-resolution games (640×480/800×600/1024×768 etc.) anymore causing these (especially old) games not to launch on these Apple Silicon Macs.
A workaround for this situation is to connect a (non-4k) external monitor to these Apple Silicon Macbook Pro’s which will fix these resolutions issues use this software based workaround. We are also in the process updating these old games with high resolution Mods/patches/fixes, but this is time consuming and not always possible. Always make sure that your Apple Silicon Mac has always the latest Mac OS version!
Wine is an environment where you can install Windows-Software. Which means that you can execute the .exe file in a Windows-like environment, even though it's not Windows. You use a certain openGL .Dlls which is different than Windows, but has the same functions. So Wine, without any adjustments, is completely legal.
It will be different when you'd apply certain Wine-Tricks/Software Installs like DirectX or IE6, because in the EULA of MS is written that it may be used under Windows license only. So if you'd want to use that Software package you'd need a legal version of a Windows OS. This doesn't mean you got have it installed though. As long as you own a Windows-License everything is fine. It all depends on the EULA of the specific Software-package you want to install; Do you need a Windows License, Yes or No. Always read the EULA of the Software-package you want to use to know sure you're fine.
The only thing not allowed in some countries, like the US, is the use of the "no cd patch" (for the games with a CD copy protection, also known as DRM), which makes it possible to play the game without CD, to avoid duplication. So if you bought the game, you have the CD and it's legal. So there usually is nothing wrong, as long as you stay within the rules of the License-Agreement. But if this is is a stumbling block to use Wine on Mac, there is always DRM-free software where the game does work, like on GOG.com or Kinguin, it will be mentioned on the game pages. These DRM-free games are completely legal to port to Mac.
Check this page for video tutorials...
FAQ regarding the Ports:
In that case or there are still wine processes active from playing a game or install (or another port is active in the background like World of Tanks). You can try the "kill al wineskin processes" option in the "Tools" (top Bar) or reboot in that case (quickest fix) and try install the specific game port again.
Some countries are restricted at some hosting places, so in that case try create a VPN tunnel to another country using for example the free limit version of Proton VPN and try after connecting to install the port again (downloading the trick might take a while because ow low bandwidth but then at least it works).
Login your steam account using your browser, then click on your avatar (right top) and click “View my profile” in the menu —> click “edit profile” on the right. Then in “general” change the “Custom URL” to the account name you fill in into steam, or when that one is already taken, change it to something else and use that account name for Porting Kit.
Mac Antivirus (usually Avast) usually check if there is any modified DLLs, which they automatically consider has viruses. Wine is full of fake DLL and EXE files, that may cause false positives. Read more about that here… You may need to disable the virus scan when installing a game port, and then whitelist it after it’s created. We hope to improve this through time with newer engines.
This can have several causes, walk those through when you have problems:
1. You didn't read the notes in the port description so I forgot to do these extra steps or your Mac doesn't reaches the requirements (if you have a low-end mac) etc.
2. You have a Apple silicon Macbook Pro (which doesn't support low-resolutions) in that case connect your Apple Silicon Macbook pro to an external display (non-4k) or use this software based workaround to fix it.
Make sure you turn off your antivirus in the installation process! If it gets stuck again, press Cancel, go to “Tools” -> “Clear caches”, clear “Wineskin caches” and “Winetricks caches”, and then try to install it again. If it still fails, send us a mail using the Contact Us tab.
Which Programs you recommend?
There are 2 programs on the Mac using Wine: Wineskin (with Porting Kit) and Crossover Games. They both have advantages. Wineskin has as a pro that it is free and can use different Wine Engines which can be a benefit for the game. Crossover is more user friendly and has CrossTies which automatically installs the game into Crossover + it can run some old Games (DOS) which Wineskin cannot. Read more about porting up here…
Are there any differences in-game, between using a AMD-Graphic card, Apple Silcion and a NVIDIA-Graphic card??
Yes there are. Sometimes it might even be the case that a game doesn’t work when you’re using a ATI-Graphic card, and only on a NVIDIA-Graphic card. Usually with a NVIDIA-Graphic card you have the most chances that a game will work, rather than with an ATI-Graphic card.
If you still have questions/issues about a game then in Porting Kit you go to the specific game and click “more” and then “report a problem” and put in as much info as you can and we will take a look if we can help you out :)
Hi, could you please consider adding a port for the game ANNO 1800?
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Simon
Hi, is there a guide on how to use the options requested when adding a “New Custom Port”?
I see:
* LAVFilters
* OpenAL
* Uplay
* Big Fish Games
* Origin
* Steam
but no explanation about those, nor a way to install the NVidia Physx engine, required (i.e.) for Divinity 2 developer edition
Thanks and keep up the good work
Hi Nicola, Yeah that should be coming soon. Nvidia Physx is a winetrick which can be done after creating the port. If yo go to “more” advanced tools –> open wineskin –> advanced –> tools –> winetricks, then Physx should be there to install and all other tricks.
Did Apple steal your app name with the Game Porting Kit?
Hi when games get updates, how do I handle that? Do I need to download them again for the port? Or will they just automatically update?
I have some porblem when I open AOE2 can’t steam show “steamwebhelper.exe, a critical Steam component, is not responding. The Steam UI will not be usable. Click here for more information. ”
How to fix it
Did Apple steal your app name with the Game Porting Kit?
Indeed, Indeed. Apple shamelessly used CrossOver code and stole this name…wow!
Is there a way to change the screen resolution either in the winebottle settings or to have the screen resolution change when launching a game? Or is that just something I need to manually change before launching a game?
Hello,
Can PortingKit be run with M1/M2/M3 MAC processor ?
And after installation with M1..M3 MAC processor, is Notepad++ can be executed ?
Best regards
RLB
Is there any way to install the original Gold versions of Age of Empires 1 and 2?
Installation is stuck at downloading port. Time left infinity.
Where Can I find older versions of Portingkit? Portingkit must have updated itself and now isn’t compatible with my version of macOS (High Sierra).
i can’t install my game due to insufficient storage space, i have an external usb, but i don’t understand how to install it there
I would also appreciate if I had the chance to get an older version of Portingkit since now the app cannot be opened on my laptop (macOS 10.13.6).
I echo Pinja’s comment above, I wish I could download an earlier version that works with Monterey.