Is it possible to play DCS World on Mac?
DCS World, also known as Digital Combat Simulator World, is a game developed by Eagle Dynamics SA. True to its name, it is a extremely detailed simulator of piloting various military vehicles: aircraft, tanks, ground vehicles, and even ships. Unlike many flight simulators, however, DCS World can be played as an actual game. This is achieved through its “missions” feature. An AI system capable of controlling all kinds of military equipment – air defense systems, trains, ships, aircraft, and more – allows users to create exceptionally detailed campaigns. It is worth noting that the base game is entirely free to download. You will be limited to two official maps, Caucasus and Mariana Islands, and two aircraft, Soviet Su-25T and American TF-51D. You can then purchase more official content such as vehicles (mainly planes), campaigns, and maps. Campaigns are generally cheap, while maps and planes often cost more than your average AAA game. Considering how detailed the simulations are, however, the price tag is understandable, if not pleasant. Thankfully, it is also possible to download user-made content, which is entirely free. Although it is an exclusively Windows game, you can play DCS World on Mac too using some third-party tools. The guide below will explain your options.
Play DCS World on Mac with Parallels
DCS World requires lots of PC resources, but if you have a powerful Mac computer (iMac, iMac Pro, or Mac Pro) Parallels Desktop can be a solution. This is an application that allows for Windows virtualization on Mac with the full support of DirectX and GPUs. In simpler terms, what this means is that it allows you to install Windows 10 on Mac with just a couple of clicks and switch between MacOS and Windows instantly. So you will be able to run Windows, install Steam, and enjoy the DCS World game on Mac just like on a regular PC.
Note: Recommended devices to run resource-demanding games: MacBook Pro (models with an Intel processor, discrete graphics cards, and 16 GB of RAM or more), iMac (models with Intel processor, discrete graphics cards, and 16 GB of RAM or more), iMac Pro (all models are suitable), Mac Pro (all models are suitable). Parallels on Mac computers with M1 (M1 Pro, M1 Max) chips may not support recent games. Games that require DirectX 12 and later are currently not supported by Parallels. AppsOnMac recommends using Parallels’ free trial feature to determine whether you can run the game or not if you’re uncertain.
Play DCS World on Mac with cloud gaming services
If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy the DCS World game system requirements, there is an easy solution. Cloud gaming services will be happy to provide you with sufficient computing power – though not for free, of course. All you need is a browser or a small client program and a good internet connection starting from 15 MBit/s. There are several great platforms that provide these services, among the best are Boosteroid, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Nvidia GeForce Now. As Boosteroid has DCS World in its game library, it is an excellent choice for those seeking to try the game out.
Play DCS World on Mac with BootCamp
Note: Mac computers with new Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 Pro, or M1, M2, M3 Max) currently do not support BootCamp. In this case, please, use the options above to run DCS World on Mac
This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play DCS World on Mac by installing Windows. You need to set up a dual boot of Windows and Mac via BootCamp. This is an application that allows users to choose the system to work in on startup, however, you won’t be able to switch between systems like in Parallels. You will need to reboot your machine every time you want to switch from Mac to Windows and vice versa. Remember that Mac is just a computer, in the end. And while newer Macs have their own special Apple Silicon chips that cannot run Windows, older Macs are very much similar to computers that run Windows, they have Intel processors, compatible RAM, disks, and other components. So you can install Windows on an older Mac by allocating no less than 64 GB of disk space (to be able to run Windows and a couple of games) and following these steps:
For OS X El Capitan 10.11 and older
For MacOS versions prior to OS X El Capitan 10.11 you will need to create a bootable Windows USB.
- Download this Windows ISO file.
- Open Boot Camp Assistant (Go to Applications > Utilities).
- Define the Windows partition size and choose the Windows ISO file you’ve downloaded.
- Format the Windows partition and go through all Windows installation steps.
- When Windows boots for the first time follow on-screen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers)