Baldur's Gate 3 on Mac in 2025
As of December 2025, Baldur's Gate 3 offers an excellent, native experience on Apple Silicon Macs. Larian Studios released a fully native ARM64 (Apple Silicon) version of the game in late 2023, and it has been consistently updated and optimized through 2025. This means the game runs directly on the M1, M2, M3, and M4 chip architectures without requiring any translation layers like Rosetta 2, resulting in superior performance and efficiency.
How to Get It Running on Mac
The process is straightforward. The native Mac version is available for purchase and download directly from the Mac App Store or through Steam. When purchasing on Steam, ensure you are downloading the "macOS" version, not the Windows version. The game is a single purchase that grants access to both PC and Mac versions. Your save files and cross-platform multiplayer are fully supported between the native Mac and Windows versions, allowing for seamless play with friends on other systems.
Performance Expectations on Apple Silicon
Performance is highly dependent on your specific Mac model and its GPU core count.
- M1/M2 Base Models (7/8-core GPU): Expect a very playable experience at 1080p resolution with Medium to High settings. Targeting 30-40 FPS is realistic in most scenarios, though dense, effects-heavy areas like the city of Baldur's Gate may see dips.
- M1 Pro/Max & M2 Pro/Max/Ultra: These chips handle the game with ease. You can comfortably run at High or even Ultra settings at 1440p, maintaining a smooth 50-60 FPS. The increased memory bandwidth and GPU cores make a significant difference.
- M3/M4 Series (including Pro and Max): The latest architectures deliver the best Mac experience. The M3 and M4 families, with their enhanced GPU architecture and hardware-accelerated ray tracing, allow for maxed-out settings at high resolutions. On an M3 Max or M4 Max, playing at 4K with Ultra settings and a stable 60 FPS is achievable, rivaling many dedicated gaming PCs.
Comparison to Windows and Console Versions
The native Mac version is functionally identical to its Windows counterpart, featuring all content, patches, and the acclaimed "Patch 7" definitive edition updates. Visually, it matches the Windows version at equivalent settings. The primary difference lies in the lack of official support for NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling technology; however, the Mac version utilizes AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 2.2, which provides a very effective performance boost.
Compared to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions, the Mac experience is more flexible, allowing for a wider range of graphical customization and mod support (via community tools). Performance on high-end Apple Silicon chips is competitive with these consoles, often offering higher fidelity at similar frame rates.
Workarounds and Tips
No workarounds are needed for the native version. The main consideration is storage space—the full installation requires over 120GB of free space. For the optimal experience, ensure you are running macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later, as Apple continues to refine its graphics drivers with each OS update. Playing while plugged into power is also recommended for sustained peak performance on laptops.
