Can you play VALORANT on Mac?

Last UpdatedJune 15, 2023 at 08:41AM

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Can you play VALORANT on Mac? Gamers around the world are always looking for new experiences in the virtual world, and VALORANT has become one of the most-liked first-person competitive shooter games. Despite being more frequently linked with Windows, Mac users are not excluded.

Can you play VALORANT on Mac: the answer

What happens if you are an avid Mac user and wish to play VALORANT on your Mac? Is VALORANT compatible with Mac OS? The simplest response is no, at least not officially. There is no official statement from Riot Games stating that they will release a Mac version of VALORANT in the future. You do not, however, have to give up on your desire to play VALORANT on a Mac. VALORANT can be played on a Mac in a few ways. This article discusses VALORANT Mac compatibility.

The VALORANT Windows version is the classic and most used among players. Both pro players and ranked enthusiasts who are playing the game for fun use Windows systems, mostly gaming PCs tailored specifically to enjoy the most out of video games. If you have a Mac, don’t get upset, as there are ways to play VALORANT on Mac. Let’s cut to the chase and explain everything you need to know about the VALORANT Mac issue.

How to play VALORANT on Mac

So, how do you play VALORANT on Mac? Well, you technically play it on Mac but not on macOS. You simply use different applications to run Windows to play the game. But how does that happen? Here is everything you need to know about how to play VALORANT on Mac:

Virtual Machine software

Using virtual machine (VM) software like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion is one way to play VALORANT on a Mac. You can install and play VALORANT on the Windows disk thanks to a virtual machine (VM) program that lets you run a Windows operating system on a Mac. The amount of disk space, memory, and processing power required by this technique might compromise your Mac's performance and battery life. Additionally, running VALORANT on a virtual machine software may cause a decrease in graphics quality, sluggishness, and potential instability.

Boot Camp

Use of Boot Camp, a built-in tool, is one method to experience VALORANT on a Mac. Start by downloading a Windows ISO file, using Boot Camp Assistant, and dividing the hard drive of your Mac. Installing Windows and the required drivers is pretty easy. You may choose to boot into macOS or Windows when you restart your Mac. Enjoy the game on your Mac by installing the VALORANT game client on the Windows disk.

You can use Boot Camp to play VALORANT on Mac. Credit: Riot Games

What is Boot Camp?

Mac users may effortlessly run Windows operating systems on their machines thanks to the potent technology known as Mac Boot Camp. By bridging the gap between Mac and PC, this integrated tool created by Apple enables users to benefit from the best of both worlds.

Starting with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Apple's macOS operating system includes a tool called Mac Boot Camp. It lets users divide up the hard disk on their Mac and set up Windows alongside macOS. This enables users to switch between macOS and Windows by simply restarting their Mac. This handy tool gives users access to a vast array of software and programs that were previously inaccessible to Mac users are now available.

Is it possible to download VALORANT on Mac?

Well, the answer is both yes and no. There isn't a native macOS version of VALORANT, and there are no immediate plans to create one. If you want to play VALORANT, you will have to free up space and include Boot Camp or spend your money and build a Windows PC. With the help of the Boot Camp tool, you can install Windows 10 on your Mac and use it to run compatible programs, games like VALORANT included. However, this approach needs a Mac with an Intel processor, a Windows license, and a lot of storage space.

Will VALORANT ever be on Mac?

Currently, there is only a Windows PC version of VALORANT available, and the game's publisher and developer, Riot Games, have made no official statements or announcements concerning a potential Mac release. This has left many Mac users wondering: will VALORANT ever be on Mac?

At some point, Riot Games will release the VALORANT Mac version for sure. However, we don’t know the exact release date because it is probably not easy to streamline the game to Mac computers as there are a couple of obstacles on the road.

There are a number of reasons why VALORANT is not currently available on Mac and why this may never happen or take a very long time. One of the primary causes is the Unreal Engine 4 game engine that VALORANT employs. Due to its efficiency and adaptability, this engine is frequently utilized by game creators, but it also has significant drawbacks and difficulties when it comes to porting games to various platforms.

VALORANT's Vanguard anti-cheat technology is one of these difficulties. Vanguard is a kernel-level driver that detects any suspicious behavior or applications that can affect the game while running in the background of your computer. This method is intended to stop hacking and cheating in VALORANT, which is essential for preserving a level playing field for all players.

However, because it is incompatible with the Mac operating system, Vanguard also presents a challenge for Mac users. Unlike Windows, Mac OS's design and security model forbids kernel-level drivers from operating without user authorization.

If Riot Games release the VALORANT Mac version, you won't have to deal with Boot Camp. Credit: Riot Games

VALORANT Mac requirements

Because VALORANT doesn’t have an official Mac version, it also doesn’t have any official Mac requirements information. However, you can take a look at its Windows version’s minimum system requirements and have an idea of how much system power the game needs. Here are the official system requirements for VALORANT:

Valorant minimum requirements

Memory: 4 GB
Graphics Card: Intel HD 4000
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or Athlon 200GE
File Size: 23 GB
OS: Windows 7 64-bit

Valorant recommended specs

Memory: 4 GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 or Radeon R7 240
CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 or Ryzen 3 1200
File Size: 23 GB
OS: Windows 10 64-bit

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Onur Demirkol

Onur Demirkol here, Content Writer for THESPIKEGG. You will see his name on a bunch of different articles here, whether they are breaking news or evergreen guides and content.

His journey in the industry has been marked by influential roles at esteemed platforms such as Flank Esports and 5Mid, where he served as editor-in-chief. Onur made significant contributions to their success in written content and social media, including a notable impact on an issue of the Turkish Esports Federation magazine. Currently, he serves as the Lead Editor for Gamelevate, taking pride in managing a global team of 12 talented writers. Additionally, Onur regularly contributes to Softonic, gHacks, Dataconomy, and Techbriefly. He has written thousands of articles, and that number continues to go up.