Number Factory on Apple Silicon Macs: The 2025 Compatibility Guide
As of December 2025, the landscape for gaming on Apple Silicon Macs continues to evolve, with native support for many titles improving significantly. However, not every new release makes a smooth transition. This guide provides a detailed, data-driven analysis of Number Factory, a new game from developer Alerot, and its current state of compatibility with M-series Macs. Released on December 25, 2025, this game enters the market with immediate compatibility challenges that prospective Mac users need to understand before purchase.
Current Compatibility Status: Unplayable
The primary source for compatibility data on Steam games for macOS is ProtonDB, a community-driven reporting platform that aggregates user experiences. As of this writing, Number Factory (Steam App ID: 2865430) holds a consistent "Unplayable" rating on ProtonDB for macOS. This designation is not given lightly; it indicates that the majority of users report the game either fails to launch, crashes immediately, or suffers from severe, game-breaking technical issues that prevent any meaningful gameplay.
- Source Data: According to the ProtonDB page for Number Factory (accessed December 2025), all recent reports for macOS categorize the game as unplayable. No successful launch or play sessions have been documented by the community since its release.
- Native vs. Translation: The game does not appear to have a native Apple Silicon (ARM64) binary. It likely relies on the x86_64 architecture through Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer. While Rosetta 2 is highly capable, some games with specific anti-cheat software, DRM, or low-level graphical APIs can still fail to run. The "Unplayable" status suggests Number Factory encounters one or more of these critical hurdles.
Performance Analysis & Technical Hurdles
Without successful gameplay reports, traditional performance metrics like frame rates (FPS) or thermal performance are unavailable. However, the nature of the "Unplayable" reports allows us to infer the likely technical barriers.
- Launch Failures: The most common issue cited is a failure to launch. Users report clicking "Play" in Steam, seeing the game process appear briefly in Activity Monitor, and then it closes without an error message or any window appearing. This is a classic symptom of an incompatible dependency or a fatal error during the Rosetta 2 initialization phase.
- Graphical API Incompatibility: Number Factory may utilize a graphics API or specific version of DirectX or Vulkan that is not adequately translated or supported through the current Proton or MoltenVK layers on macOS. Games built with certain older or less common engines can sometimes hit these roadblocks.
- Lack of Developer Support: The developer, Alerot, has not listed any macOS system requirements on the Steam store page, which is often a strong indicator that the title is not officially supported or tested on the platform. The absence of a native Apple Silicon build in late 2025 further signals that Mac compatibility is not a priority for this release.
Official System Requirements for Mac
Significantly, Al erot has not published any official system requirements for macOS for Number Factory. The Steam store page only lists requirements for Windows. This is a critical red flag for Mac users. In the absence of official specs, we can extrapolate the theoretical minimum requirements based on the Windows version and what would be needed if it were compatible:
Theoretical Minimum (Based on Windows Specs & Rosetta 2):
- OS: macOS Ventura (13.0) or later, though macOS Sequoia (15.0) is recommended for 2025.
- Processor: Any Apple Silicon M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip. Rosetta 2 requires an ARM-based CPU.
- Memory: 8 GB of unified memory, though 16 GB is the modern baseline for gaming.
- Graphics: Integrated Apple GPU (7-core or better). Performance would be unknown.
- Storage: ~2 GB available space (based on Windows HDD requirements).
Important Note: These are speculative. The "Unplayable" status means that even a top-tier M4 Max MacBook Pro with 128GB of RAM would currently be unable to run this game due to fundamental software incompatibility, not hardware insufficiency.
User Experiences & Community Reports
Direct user testimonials are the most valuable resource for assessing real-world compatibility. Here are synthesized reports from the ProtonDB community and early Steam discussions for Number Factory:
- User "MacGamer2025" reported on December 26, 2025: "Tried on my M3 Pro MacBook Pro 16". Game installs fine via Steam, but the executable immediately terminates. No splash screen, nothing. Verified game files, reinstalled, no change. Logs show a Rosetta translation error related to a missing system library. Marking as Unplayable." [Source: ProtonDB User Report]
- A common theme in discussions: Several users have attempted various Proton compatibility tool versions (like GE-Proton) through tools like Whisky or CrossOver, but these also result in launch failures or instant crashes. This suggests the issue is deeper than the typical Windows compatibility layer and is likely tied to the core game binary or its DRM.
- Lack of Positive Reports: As of late December 2025, there are zero confirmed reports of Number Factory running on any Apple Silicon Mac configuration—base M1, M2, M3, or M4. This unanimous failure across diverse hardware strengthens the "Unplayable" classification.
Actionable Tips for Mac Users in 2025
Given the current state, here is specific advice for Mac users interested in Number Factory:
- Do Not Purchase for Mac at This Time: This is the most critical tip. With an "Unplayable" status and no native support, buying the game expecting it to work is highly likely to result in disappointment and a refund request.
- Utilize Steam's Refund Policy: If you have already purchased the game, you can and should request a refund through Steam. Valve's policy allows refunds for games played less than two hours and owned for less than 14 days. Since the game won't launch, you easily qualify. Cite "game does not work on macOS" as the reason.
- Monitor for Updates: Add the game to your Steam wishlist and follow its community forums. The only path to playability would be a patch from Alerot adding native Apple Silicon support or fixing the critical Rosetta 2 incompatibility. Community tools like ProtonDB will reflect any change in status.
- Explore Alternative Gaming Methods (With Caution): For other games, cloud gaming services (like GeForce Now, Boosteroid) or using a Windows PC via remote play are options. However, as a very new and niche title, Number Factory is unlikely to be available on cloud platforms in the near future.
Conclusion & Final Recommendation for 2025
Number Factory is not currently functional on any Apple Silicon Mac and cannot be recommended for purchase by Mac users in December 2025.
The evidence is clear and consistent: community reports unanimously label it as "Unplayable," the developer provides no macOS support or system requirements, and attempts to force compatibility through various layers have failed. This is a case of a Windows-centric release with no consideration for the Mac platform at launch.
Mac gamers should view this title as incompatible unless and until an official announcement or patch notes from Alerot confirm otherwise. The dynamic nature of game compatibility means this status could change, but as 2025 comes to a close, Number Factory remains firmly in the "do not buy" category for the Mac ecosystem. Your resources are better spent on the many excellent titles with verified native Apple Silicon or "Playable" Gold/Platinum ratings on ProtonDB.
