Playing Half-Life and Portal Games on Mac OS (Using Codeweavers Crossover)

 The Status of Portal and Half-Life Games (So Far)

   

 

 

    And so, Half-Life and Portal Games have an iconic role as the first game developed by Valve Software™.  Half-Life was the first game developed and published by Valve Software and made using a modified Quake 2 Engine.  Since then, Half-life has received several Expansions, a Sequel known as Half-Life 2, Portal spin-off games.  There was also a virtual reality prequel known as Half-Life : Alyx, in which the player takes on the role of supporting character Alyx Vance from Half-Life 2.  So what is the condition of the Half-Life games today?  They are available on Steam.  For Windows users, it's an easy walk in the park running all of the Half-Life Games on Steam.  

    For Mac OS users, it's a different story.  Beginning with Mac OS Catalina, released to the general public on October 7, 2019, Mac OS became exclusively 64-bit.  What does that mean?  It means that any applications that run on Mac OS must be 64-bit applications in their encryption.  Any older 32-bit applications, unless changed to 64-bit applications, will not run on Mac OS.  Fortunately, there are ways around this, which is why I began Kaos Tutorials, as a way to get applications running in spite of the 64-bit barrier set up with Mac OS Catalina and the following operating systems.  The best current workaround is using a type of porting or emulation software known as Codeweavers Crossover.

    Codeweavers Crossover is a porting software which makes a virtual or emulated windows machine within your Mac OS or Linux operating Systems.  I will make note of other methods for using Windows versions of Mac OS later in this article, namely Porting Team.  Crossover has proven a great method for getting Steam working on Mac OS by far!  Now, for getting Steam Installed and running on Codeweavers Crossover, I have a great guide for how to do so below!

Guide to Installing Steam on Codeweavers Crossover       

     Now, that you have installed Steam with the additional fonts and dependencies, you can go and buy the Half-Life and/or Portal games from the Steam Store.  If you have already purchased them, and just have the annoyance of being unable to play them due to the games being 32-bit, then it's as easy as Installing the games into Steam and playing them.  All of the Half-Life and Portal Games run well using a version of Steam installed into Codeweavers Crossover, thankfully, and so here, your journey is done, if you are looking at the Crossover Method.  The next part will cover installation using The Porting Kit.

 

The Porting Kit

 

    The Porting Kit is another similar application to Codeweavers Crossover, in and that it creates a virtual windows machine to run windows applications on Mac OS, including some Applications which were initially impeded from running by the "32-bit barrier" which began with Mac OS Catalina.  The compatibility for running applications in the Porting Kit is provided in the app based on your Apple Mac Computer's system specifications.  Porting Kit's main issues with compatibility are primarily whether or not you own a newer Apple Silicon based Mac or an older Intel-based Mac computer.  Unlike Crossover, Porting Kit presents emulated Apps from Windows as Apps on your own Machine, which you can open by double clicking, as if they were native Mac OS Apps!

The Porting Kit Website

 

    Now, with the Porting Kit, you have a number of options for Steam, known as "Builds".  Builds are different installations of Steam which are designed for different specifications.  Some builds are meant for only Apple Silicon machines.  Others are meant for older Intel-Based Macs.  Read the specifications on the Build before installing it!  Here are some snapshots of the three different available builds.

 

    In addition, there is the standard process of Installing Steam once you have found the build that works given your system specifications.  Once you have Installed Steam with Porting Kit, install games within that Steam Bottle, which should be available as an Application on your machine.    Now, with Steam opened, take a look at the game, and enjoy!  The Half-Life and Portal Games work great on the Porting Kit Build of Steam on either Intel or Silicon-Based Macs!

 Conclusion

    With all of these steps completed, you should have a great time playing Fallout New Vegas on Codeweavers Crossover!  In conclusion, I would like to invite you to check out the Forums on Codeweavers.  Entries for various apps have forums and Tips for getting the Applications to work!  If you are available to actively test and rate the compatibility of various Applications on Codeweavers Crossover, you may want to consider becoming a Bettertester!  As a Bettertester, you regularly test Apps and can be rewarded with Bettertester Points to buy merchandise or even extended subscriptions to Crossover, saving money you would need for renewing your subscription!

 

    You can follow additional guides for getting Windows applications running on Mac OS over here on my blog : Radio Kaos.  You can also follow additional instructional video guides on my YouTube Playlist, Kaos Tutorials.  Kaos Tutorials episodes are also available on the Rumble Channel of the same name.

      Work on my Channel and Blog can be supported over on My Tip Jar or My Merch Store on StreamLabs.  I also have a Store on TeeSpring.  You can make a donation with a suggestion in the notes and/or subject of the donation over on CashApp.  No amount for this donation with a suggestion is too small or too great! I can also be followed on Patreon or Locals for early and exclusive access to certain videos.  Now, in conclusion of this article, "Be safe out there and I will be signing off!"