Playing Age of Empires III : Definitive Edition on Mac OS using Codeweavers Crossover!

 Age of Empires III : Definitive Edition

    Way back in 2005, Age of Empires III 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 III : Definitive Edition, was released on Windows on October 15, 2020.  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.  Additionally, I have a guide for running Age of Empires II, which you can also check out!

Getting Started

 

    In order to get started, you should have the Windows version of Steam installed on Codeweavers Crossover.  In order to install Steam correctly, in Crossover, I have a guide for Installing Steam available for you over on YouTube.  After installing Steam, you should be ready to go set the correct settings for the Steam Bottle before opening Age of Empires III.  The Steam Bottle should be installed as a Windows 10, 64-bit Bottle with some additional installations.

             

Advanced Settings

    Advanced settings are special settings for the Bottle, in this case, the Steam Bottle, in which special characteristics are rendered active, such as accounting for a program being native to a high resolution, which is common in newer games, or Direct X11, or DXVK, or D3DMetal, and so on.  Advanced Settings apply to other programs, especially more recent Applications released in the 2010s until today.

For other Applications, especially older Applications before the 2010s, the Advanced Settings should usually be deactivated.  So far, I have two other more recent Applications which should have Advanced Settings sctivated, including Halo : The Master Chief Collection and Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition, also on Steam.

     As shown below, in the circled section, the Advanced Settings are located in the right hand corner of the Crossover Menu, as circled below, for the Steam Bottle

 

 

    Now, for Age of Empires III : Definitive Edition, DXVK and High Resolution Mode should both be activated for the Steam Bottle.  These two settings are common for more recent Microsoft Games for Windows.  But for older games in Steam such as The Elder Scrolls IV : Oblivion or Max Payne, all advanced settings should be turned off.  For playing Age of Empires III in Steam, the following should be turned on for the Steam Bottle, as shown below.

Starting Age of Empires III

    When starting Age of Empires III, you should go into the options settings for the game.  The game may have a completely blank screen during gameplay on high settings.  It may run well at higher settings.  But if the game display shows up as a white haze, then set the graphics settings to their lowest.

 

 

Conclusion

    Now, you should have a great time playing Age of Empires III: 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.

      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!"