Is it possible to play Kerbal Space Program 2 on Mac?
Kerbal Space Program 2 is a space simulation game developed by Intercept Games and published by Private Division. Although it is currently in Early Access, the game shows a lot of promise. KSP 2, just like its predecessor, features no story. It’s about what you can do, not why you should do it. You can build rockets out of many component parts. Depending on how you built them, they may be able to explore the further reaches of space… or not. Some of the more questionable designs will not be able to leave the launchpad without exploding horribly… though that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t build them. Sure, making functional rockets is far more challenging, but committing crimes against physics can also be pretty fun. Compared to the first game, Kerbal Space Program 2 features enhanced graphics and user interface, as well as better, more detailed planets. The developers also intend to implement space colonization, interstellar travel, and multiplayer into the game, but those features aren’t ready just yet. Currently, the game can be played on Microsoft Windows, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. As you can see, Mac isn’t on this list; despite this, it is, in fact, possible to play Kerbal Space Program 2 on Mac. Read the guide below if you want to learn how.
System Requirements
| Minimal | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor: AMD Athlon X4 845 @ 3.5 GHz or Intel Core i5 6400 @ 2.7 GHz | Processor: Intel i5-11500 @ 2.7GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core @ 3.6GHz |
| RAM: 12 GB | RAM: 16 GB |
| Video card: nVidia RTX 2060 w/ 6GB VRAM, nVidia GTX 1070 Ti w/ 8GB VRAM, AMD Radeon 5600XT w/ 6GB VRAM | Video card: nVidia GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 45 GB | Storage: 60 GB |
Play Kerbal Space Program 2 on Mac with Parallels
One easy way to play Kerbal Space Program 2 on Mac is by using a program called Parallels Desktop. This program is capable of creating and running virtual machines that run Windows and support hardware acceleration. In simpler terms, Parallels Desktop 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 (or Epic Games Store, or any other launcher for that matter), and enjoy the Kerbal Space Program 2 game on Mac just like on a regular PC.
Generally speaking, you will need an iMac Pro or a Mac Pro to run demanding games. Some MacBook Pro and iMac models are also suitable; they must have an Intel processor, a discrete graphics card and at least 16 GB of RAM. If your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip (such as M1, M2, M3), you may experience issues playing modern games. However, if the game you’re trying to run is old, or simply doesn’t demand much from computer hardware, then you will likely be able to run it on any Mac computer, including MacBook Air.
Please note that not all games are supported by Parallels. Several conditions must be met for the game to be playable. Your Mac must exceed minimum system requirements for the game. Playing a game on Windows running through Parallels places additional strain on your Mac, so meeting them is not enough. Games that require DirectX 12 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 Kerbal Space Program 2 on Mac with cloud gaming services
If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy the Kerbal Space Program 2 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. Currently, only Shadow and airgpu cloud gaming services feature Kerbal Space Program 2.
Play Kerbal Space Program 2 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 Kerbal Space Program 2 on Mac
This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play Kerbal Space Program 2 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)