Is it possible to play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition on Mac?
Sea of Thieves is a pirate-themed multiplayer adventure game focused on PvP combat and exploration. Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition is the newest version of the game which includes all expansions and certain cosmetic items. It was developed by Rare Ltd and published by Xbox Game Studios. Embarking on an adventure in search of loot and glory has never been this easy! Set sail and explore the open seas; you can choose to search for treasure, hunt down dangerous creatures, and tackle a multitude of quests. However, you will be sharing the sea with other pirates just like you, for better and worse. Mainly for worse: PvP mode is always on and can’t be disabled. Though there are certainly avenues for cooperation, you can’t trust a treacherous pirate. Stay cautious at all times if you don’t want to walk down the plank. The 2023 Edition of this game offers great value for your money, but, just like the original game, it cannot be officially played on macOS. To play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition on Mac, a third-party tool will be needed; scroll down if you want to learn more.
System Requirements
| Minimal | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor: Intel Q9450 @ 2.6GHz or AMD Phenom II X6 @ 3.3 GHz | Processor: Intel i5 4690 @ 3.5GHz or AMD FX-8150 @ 3.6 GHz |
| RAM: 4 GB | RAM: 8 GB |
| Video card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or AMD Radeon 7750 | Video card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon R9 380x |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 50 GB | Storage: 50 GB |
Play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition on Mac with Parallels
One easy way to play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition 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 Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition 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. 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. When it comes to games in-between, it is recommended to consider your Mac’s hardware specifications instead of thinking in terms of its model.
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.
If your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip (such as M1, M2, M3), you may experience issues playing modern games.
AppsOnMac recommends using Parallels’ free trial feature to determine whether you can run the game or not if you’re uncertain.
Play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition on Mac with cloud gaming services
If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition 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; the best ones are Boosteroid, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and NVidia GeForce NOW.
As Xbox Cloud has Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition in its game library, it is an excellent choice if you’re interested in this particular game.
Play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition 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 Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition on Mac
This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition 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 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)