logoalt Hacker News

bigyabai04/23/20251 replyview on HN

APIs are the exact reason. Why can't you run Proton on MacOS? WoW64 works. Rosetta and Wine work. Is there any technical limitation besides API support preventing the Macbook from working like a Steam Deck?


Replies

p_ing04/23/2025

Proton relies on Linux sys APIs not available on macOS, but the Porting Toolkit is available. I've been able to "play" Noita on my M2 Air (granted the perf sucks, but that's what I get for owning an Air). This discussion hasn't been centered around kernel APIs, but rather graphics APIs (D3D/Vulkan), if you're going for that "gotcha!".

Crossover is another option, though I have no need to pay for it as I own a Windows PC/consoles.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/gt3fat/proton...