New guide for Steam on Mac using Codeweavers Crossover 26! 

   

 Okay, so it's a new year and a new version of Codeweavers Crossover is out!  So, let's get to the basics, as also shown in the video.

 

1) Install Steam 

This is easy to do and the preset or CrossTie, with Crossover 26 works perfectly for the occasion.

 

2) Install DirectX For Modern Games

Do this by selecting the Crosstie for Direct X, then select "Steam" as the bottle which DirectX For Modern Games will be installed into.

 

3) Verify your identity to login to Steam.  Do this by the email method or the mobile Steam app on your phone.  Now, following these instructions are other instructions for more specific games which require a launcher to run.  Otherwise, just boot up Steam after you have identified yourself and logged into your account.

 

4) Ubisoft Connect (For Ubisoft Games)

This Launcher is for more recent Ubisoft Games, especially Assassin's Creed games, from the late 2000s and beyond.  The earliest game I have seen to need this support Launcher is Assassin's Creed II.  So far, I have tested Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin's Creed Revelations.  All of those games run pretty well on Steam with this launcher installed into the Steam Bottle.  So how do you do this?  It's actually rather simple, select the Crosstie for Ubisoft Connect, and then Install it into the Steam Bottle.  That way, when you have an Ubisoft game in need of being played in Steam, you can run it quite smoothly with the launcher. See below for reference on the Installation setup.

 

 

    After this, Ubisoft Games are set to go, this includes Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin's Creed Revelations as far as I have tested.  You can go check out the Codeweavers website for more compatibility ratings and even guides for the games provided by myself and others. 

 

 

 

 5) Final Fantasy Games Setup

 

 And so, for Steam, there is also a process to get many Final Fantasy games on Steam working well.  Some libraries do not install during the Steam Installation process, especially for the Older Final Fantasy games on PC, and so, here is a little setup for getting those games working on Steam, by installing the libraries or missing files so the games can run well in Crossover.

 

You need to add the following dependencies or libraries to the Steam Bottle, to take care of most of these games.  It doesn't work for all Final Fantasy games, but it has been tested for Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, and Final Fantasy VIII.  I will give a list and a visual reference for the setup for the libraries which are needed to optimize Final Fantasy games.

 

First, access the "Wine Configuration" in the settings Tab for the Steam Bottle, shown with the highlighted circle below.

 

    

   Then, when in the "Wine Configuration" Tab, go to the Tab "Libraries".  In the "Libraries" tab, copy and paste the following libraries or dependencies to have Crossover Install them into Steam.  First, copy and paste to make sure you get the correct file, then click add, and repeat for all the file names.  When all the file names are copied and pasted, click "Apply" then click "OK"

 

The libraries or dependencies to copy and paste into the overrides are as follows

 

dmband.dll
dmime.dll
dmloader.dll
dmstyle.dll
dmsynth.dll
dmusic.dll
eax.dll 

 

 

 

  

     Now you are all set for most of the Final Fantasy games on Steam.  Now on to the Bethesda games setup.

 

 

Bethesda Audio Override

    Now, the third game set that has some issues running on Codeweavers Crossover are the games by Bethesda.  This includes later Fallout games.  I have guides for the older Fallout games which works on modern machines using The Community Editions of Fallout 1 and Fallout 2.  However, for Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Fallout 4, and TES4 Oblivion or TES5 Skyrim.  For the Bethesda games, there is a procedure which I have referred to as The Bethesda Audio Override.  So, for a little overview, here we go.

 

 

 

First, access the "Wine Configuration" in the settings Tab for the Steam Bottle, shown with the highlighted circle below.

 

    

   Then, when in the "Wine Configuration" Tab, go to the Tab "Libraries".  In the "Libraries" tab, copy and paste the following libraries or dependencies to have Crossover Install them into Steam.  First, copy and paste to make sure you get the correct file, then click add, and repeat for all the file names.  When all the file names are copied and pasted, click "Apply" then click "OK"

 

The libraries or dependencies to copy and paste into the overrides are as follows

 

x3daudio1_6
x3daudio1_7
xaudio2_6
xaudio2_7
 

 

 
     Now, that we are done, we have one last point to approach when it comes to Steam : Your mouse pointer.

 

Mouse Pointer

Mouse Pointer Fix

    The mouse pointer is the base operating system cursor for Mac OS, it shows up on your screen when you are looking at your Graphical User Interface or Operating System.  When you go into other Applications, you usually see another cursor for the mouse inside the other application.  Or do you?  Sometimes you see the mouse pointer, or system cursor, along with the application cursor, show up on screen while running the application.  Now while this is not a 100 percent fix, this greatly reduces the occurrence of you having your mouse pointer showing up in-game for most applications in Codeweavers Crossover, there are two measures which can be taken to mitigate the mouse pointer issues.  One is in the "Wine Configuration" settings.  The other is in two apps which allows you to hide the mouse pointer with keystrokes.

 

Wine Configuration Method

    First, go to wine configuration.  This tab is located on the lower left if you selected The Steam Bottle.

 

   Now, in wine configuration, open the "graphics" tab.

 

      Now, in the "Graphics" tab check off the box for "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows" as shown below.

 

 

     With this section finished, we will take a look at two Apps you can use to manually hide the mouse pointer while using apps.

 

 

 

Apps for Hiding The Mouse Pointer

     There are two Apps for hiding the mouse pointer manually on Mac OS, which I have tested : Cursorcerer and Stealth Pointer.  Both operate on the concept of hiding the Mouse Pointer with an assigned keystroke or combination of keys being pressed.  Do not install more than one of these Applications at once!  Also when assigning the keystrokes, make sure it doesn't also conflict with the controls within the game or app you are using.

 

 

Cursorcerer Web Site 

 

Stealth Pointer Website

 

     With these two methods, you should be able to mitigate the occurrence of the mouse pointer showing up while you are running Steam in Codeweavers Crossover.  It should be quite helpful with one or both methods employed.

Conclusion

    

With all of these steps completed, you should have a great time playing games on Steam using Codeweavers Crossover 26!  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!  I also have additional guides on this blog, for the other games, including Age of Empires II, Fallout New Vegas, Heroes of Might and Magic III, Final Fantasy VIII, Halo : The Master Chief Collection, Max Payne 1+2, Doom + Doom II, or Prince of Persia Sands of Time Trilogy.  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!"