How to Play Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition on Mac OS With Codeweavers Crossover!

 Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition

     

    Way back in 2000 and 2001, Age of Empires II was released as a real-time strategy game in which one could play as one of a number of historical civilizations and battle with other historical civilizations in skirmishes or play in historical campaigns meant to be based on historical events.  Nearly 20 years later, a special edition known as Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition, was released.  In this version, you get the base game and it's expansions, along with totally new expansions for Central and Eastern Europe, and more playable Civilizations for skirmishes.  To top it off, the game is playable in HD and UHD graphics. 

    One issue remains.  It is for the Microsoft Windows operating system, or is it?  Today, there are multiple ways to get Windows Native Applications running on Mac OS in the form of Porting Kit, Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, or Codeweavers Crossover.  All these applications work by setting up an emulated or virtual Windows machine on your own computer.  In the case of Codeweavers Crossover, there is also the capability to run Windows on Linux if you so choose. 

Steam

    

    First of all, you need to install Steam to play the game.  Steam is an online based gaming service and store that helps you install and play games with your friends or on your own.  Now there are versions of Steam that are available for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux, but Age of Empires II is available on Windows when it comes to Steam.  So here, I have a guide to Installing the Windows version of Steam on Mac for playing Windows games on Steam, using Codeweavers Crossover. I have a guide to Installing the Windows version of Steam here on YouTube!

Steam Installation Guide

              

Advanced Settings

Advanced Settings for Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition
 

    Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition and many more recent games such as Halo : The Master Chief Collection, do not simply work on Codeweavers Crossover, but need the Advanced Settings engaged.  Advanced Settings include a number of special graphics settings, including DXVK, ESync, MSync, and High Resolution Mode.  These "Advanced Settings" apply in specific ways for various games, some games should have a specific set of Advanced Settings engaged, others will not run well if any of the Advanced Settings engaged.  So, pay attention to specific games and whether or not they need any Advanced Settings engaged.  Also remember to engage a different set of Advanced Settings or turn them all off for playing other games.  

    In this case, select the Steam Bottle in the Crossover Menu, and turn on DXVK and High Resolution Mode.  These help because Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition, is natively played in HD and 4K resolutions, allowing for High Resolution Mode to address the native high resolutions of Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition.  DXVK takes care of the neccessary dependencies for Direct X 11 so that more recent games such as this one will run well.

 

 

    With all of these steps taken, you can now enjoy Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition.   See some footage of this achievement along with some final credits for this entry!

Conclusion

    Now, you should have a great time playing Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition 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.

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