Is it possible to play System Shock on Mac?
System Shock is an action-adventure game originally developed in 1994. In 2023, Nightdive Studios released a remake of the game, improving its visuals, controls, interface, and overall experience. All of this was done without sacrificing the original game’s strengths and qualities. The game’s plot has stayed exactly the same; an evil AI named SHODAN took over the Citadel Space Station and turned the crew into cybernetic thralls. Now, she intends to conquer Earth, while you, the protagonist, intend to stop her. Though this premise is very simple, there’s more to this story. Many documents have been scattered throughout the game, providing information about the world it takes place in. Though reading them is not exactly necessary, this is not a mindless shooter – skip too much, and you will find yourself lost, not knowing where to go, or stuck in front of a door you don’t know the passcode for. System Shock 2023 is easily the best way to play the game now that it is available. However, for the time being, this experience is limited to Windows users. Though the developers intend to port the game on other platforms, these ports are not yet available.Despite this, it is possible to play System Shock on Mac right now. We’re not talking about the original version, either; the remake is very much playable as well. The article below contains detailed instructions.
System Requirements
| Minimal | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7, 8.1, 10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 7, 8.1, 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better | Processor: Intel Core i7-3770/AMD FX-8350 or better |
| RAM: 4 GB | RAM: 8 GB |
| Video card: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better | Video card: NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB or better |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 10 GB | Storage: 10 GB |
Play System Shock on Mac with Parallels
One easy way to play System Shock 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 System Shock 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 System Shock on Mac with cloud gaming services
If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy the System Shock 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 System Shock in its game library, it is an excellent choice for those seeking to try the game out.
Play System Shock 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 System Shock on Mac
This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play System Shock 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)