How to play Helldivers 2 on Mac

Helldivers 2 is a satirical sci-fi game that has rapidly ascended the rankings of popular games on Steam. Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by PlayStation, it is the action-packed sequel to the 2015 military strategy game, Helldivers. The game is set in a future where players engage in a war against a horde of alien bugs, offering a cooperative multiplayer experience that combines intense combat with strategic gameplay elements. Helldivers 2 has sold an estimated 8 million copies, indicating its massive appeal and success. The game’s sales have continued to rise over time, showing a rare “inverse decay curve” in popularity, which is uncommon in the gaming industry. Running Helldivers 2 on a Mac is not straightforward, since the game is not natively supported on macOS. However, there are workarounds that Mac users can employ. Unfortunately, due to nProtect GameGuard anti-cheat system, there are limited methods to make Helldivers 2 run perfectly. We will describe two methods suitable for Intel and M1/M2/M3 Macs.

1. Play Helldivers 2 on M1/M2/M3 Mac with cloud gaming services (Boosteroid and Shadow PC)

Cloud gaming platforms stream games from remote servers, offering high performance without demanding hardware. Cloud gaming services are expanding the accessibility of gaming by eliminating many of the traditional barriers, such as the need for constant hardware upgrades and the initial cost of games. As internet speeds increase and technology advances, cloud gaming continues to grow as a popular alternative to traditional console and PC gaming.

Boosteroid

Boosteroid is a cloud gaming platform that allows users to play video games directly from the cloud on various devices, including PCs, smartphones, and smart TVs. This service provides access to a wide range of games without the need for powerful hardware. With Boosteroid, gamers can stream their favorite games over the internet, bypassing the need for downloading or updating games locally. The platform operates on a subscription model, offering different tiers to accommodate various user needs and preferences. Boosteroid is known for its ease of use, enabling seamless gaming experiences across different operating systems and devices, promoting greater accessibility and convenience for gamers worldwide.

1. Visit Boosteroid, sign up, and subscribe.
2. Search for the Helldivers 2 game and play directly in your web browser.

Note: Boosteroid streams games seamlessly, making it accessible on most internet-connected devices.

Shadow PC

Shadow PC is a cloud computing service that provides users with a high-performance virtual computer accessible from various devices over the internet. This service offers a dedicated Windows environment that functions like a local PC, complete with the ability to install software and games as one would on a personal computer. Designed to deliver powerful computing capabilities, Shadow PC utilizes data centers equipped with high-end hardware to ensure smooth performance for tasks ranging from gaming to professional content creation. It supports a broad range of devices, including PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, allowing users to seamlessly access their virtual PC from anywhere, providing a flexible and efficient computing solution.

1. Choose a plan on the Shadow PC website, complete your registration, and set up payment.
2. Install the Shadow PC app on your device from the Shadow website.
3. Open the app and log in to access your virtual Windows PC.
4. Download and install Steam if it’s not already set up on your Shadow PC.
5. Purchase Helldivers 2 on Steam, then download and install it.
6. Adjust the game and Steam settings for the best performance.
7. Launch Helldivers 2 and start playing.

4. Use Boot Camp (for Intel-based Macs only)

Note: Boot Camp is not supported on Macs with M1/M2/M3 chips. Helldivers 2 is quite resource-demanding game, that is why to get a decent performance on Intel Macs, your machine should have enough RAM (at least 16 GB) and discrete GPU (latest MacBooks with Intel chip (2019), Mac Pro, iMac, iMac Pro)

Boot Camp is a utility software included with macOS that allows users to install and run Windows on Macintosh computers in a dual-boot configuration. By partitioning the computer’s hard drive, Boot Camp enables a Mac to boot either into macOS or Windows, providing full system performance for Windows as it runs natively on the hardware. This solution is ideal for Mac users who need to run Windows applications that do not have macOS versions or who require the performance benefits of running certain programs directly on the hardware without virtualization overhead. Boot Camp simplifies the installation process, guiding users through the setup with step-by-step instructions and making it straightforward to switch between operating systems.

1. Get the Windows 10 ISO file (Windows 11 ISO file) from the Microsoft website. Choose the version that matches your license.
2. Find Boot Camp in the Utilities folder within your Applications. Open it to start the setup.
3. Use Boot Camp Assistant to allocate space on your hard drive for Windows. Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust the partition size.
4. Follow the prompts in Boot Camp Assistant to begin the Windows installation. Your Mac will reboot into the Windows setup.
5. During the Windows installation, choose the BOOTCAMP partition and format it.
6. Complete the installation by following the Windows setup instructions.
7. To switch between macOS and Windows, restart your Mac and hold the Option key to select the operating system you want to use.
8. Once Windows is installed, set up Helldivers 2 like on any PC.

Other methods to run Helldivers 2 on Mac

We tried several other methods to run Helldivers 2 on Mac, including Crossover, Parallels, Whisky, Apple Game Porting Toolkit, however nProtect GameGuard won’t allow game to start displaying error: