Can you play ARK: Survival Ascended on Mac?
Probably yes. The single-player game should run on an Apple Silicon Mac; online play is not expected to work, because of BattlEye.
Last checked · Source: Sommelier ratings, Steam Deck and anti-cheat data
Why ARK: Survival Ascended is rated “Should work”
Valve rates ARK: Survival Ascended “Verified” on Steam Deck, which usually means it starts without special settings. That is the main reason it is rated “Should work” here.
It uses DirectX 12. On a Mac that runs through Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit, which works only on Apple Silicon and needs a one-time setup that Sommelier walks you through.
Online play uses BattlEye, and on a Mac it does not let you in. Play offline and you are fine.
- Mac versionNo, runs through Windows compatibility
- Single-playerYes
- Anti-cheatBattlEye
- Online playBlocked on Mac
- GraphicsDirectX 12
- Steam Deck ratingVerified
Which Mac can run ARK: Survival Ascended?
| Chip | Apple Silicon only DirectX 12 games need Apple Silicon. |
|---|---|
| Intel Macs | Not supported |
| How it runs | Game Porting Toolkit One-time setup, free from Apple. |
| macOS | 15 or later Sommelier needs macOS 15. |
| Disk space | 180 GB |
Where to get ARK: Survival Ascended
- Steam
- DeveloperStudio Wildcard
- Released2023
- Download size180 GB
Sommelier installs the game from your own library. You buy it in the store as usual; Sommelier does not sell games. See it on Steam
Where this rating comes from
- Steam Deck ratingVerified
- Anti-cheat on Linux (AreWeAntiCheatYet)Supported
- Last checkedOctober 24, 2026
Ratings combine Valve’s Steam Deck rating, anti-cheat data and our own checks. When the facts change, the status here follows.
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Path of ExileQuestions about ARK: Survival Ascended on Mac
Do I need Windows to play ARK: Survival Ascended on Mac?
No. Sommelier runs the Windows version for you; you don’t install Windows or buy a licence.
Does ARK: Survival Ascended online and co-op work on Mac?
No. Online play is protected by BattlEye, which does not run on Mac. The offline game works.
Does ARK: Survival Ascended run on an Intel Mac?
No. DirectX 12 games need an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or newer).
How big is the download?
About 180 GB, so check your disk space first. Sommelier shows the size before it starts.
Play ARK: Survival Ascended on your Mac
Sommelier is a free app that tells you before you download whether a game will run, and sets it up for you.