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Mac Compatibility

LividSugars
LividSugars
Soul Shriven
This is going to be a pretty lengthy post discussing problems with Apple's silicon macs on the Elder Scrolls Online. I appreciate anybody who reads this. Let's continue: Compatibility of M1+ Macs is dreadful, and I'm mainly not talking about FPS and loading times, at least for me. I'm talking about constant crashing and the advertisement of Mac compatibility. This game is advertised as Mac compatible, but unless you physically search it up or visit the form page and know what you're looking for (which most ESO players don't even know exist), nowhere does it tell you that it isn't supported on Apple silicon macs. This not only applies for their official website, where you can buy the game, but also for Steam, where nowhere does it state it's not compatible easily. Matter of fact, the advertisement almost makes it seem like it is completely compatible, almost like no man's sky. For example, in the "PC/Mac megaserver," they flaunt that Apple logo everywhere, and in the forms, they even say PC/Mac patch notes. Nowhere unless very specific circumstances is it stated that it's not supported on Apple silicon Macs. That is scummy and shady. This hardware has been out for nearly half a decade, and for the amount of people complaining not only on the forms but also on Steam, there is obviously a player base there. I would be willing to bet the majority of players who play this game on Mac are not Intel-based Mac users. If they are, they're using boot camp. Here's a beautiful quote made by somebody on the forms a little bit ago that goes by the name of Blaze13."I think the most insulting bit of all this is that there's no warning when you are about to buy the game or spend more money going forward. The most prominent thing is the "Mac Compatibility" stamp on the advertisements, which is truly misleading with all the fine print and well-hidden details."Here's that form post that the quote was taken from. Definitely a worthwhile read. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/651371/have-zos-announced-they-will-support-apple-silicon-mac For the developers potentially reading this, a lot of this is your fault but not all of it. Apple doesn't really know what they're doing when it comes down to gaming on Mac. They have a game mode, and they do have the processing power to run games pretty well. For the steam issue, I don't know if that's your guys's fault. You may want to talk to Steam about that. But still, some of it is your fault, and you either need to drop compatibility altogether or make it actually Mac compatible. Nobody likes being lied to or misled. As for the troubleshooting steps, it doesn't seem like they work. Nobody wants to play window mode because it decreases FPS and makes the game feel like you're in Cyrodiil at peak hours. That's on top of the already poo poo performance. Turning on virtual sync does not resolve the issue. The M1+ Macs have plenty of processing power, but decreasing graphics doesn't solve the problem. Removing add-ons and following those troubleshooting steps don't work. Etc., etc., but even if they did work, that still wouldn't make it right. Something should not be Mac compatible, and in the latest generation of hardware you have to do workarounds. That's ridiculous. Also, I don't know if this is completely true as I have not tried it, but I do recall reading a couple of posts about parallels/crossover, and it used to be able to work. But since Necrom it doesn't. Like I stated, I've not tried this, but if you're willing to or have recently, please let me know down below. But I'm sure virtualizing the game would not be an enjoyable experience.I really do enjoy ESO. For the developers, if you're reading this, I'm not trying to completely hate you or the game. This game has a lot of flaws, and some of the choices you guys make are downright stupid. Really should have hired skinny cheeks, lol. Despite this game's flaws, I'm still subscribed to ESO Plus, and I have been playing it since 2015, originally on Xbox. I play tons of MMOs, and there's a reason I always stick to this one, and that's why I'm so passionate about this issue at hand. I hope you take this as majority subjective criticism. With a hint of being extremely serious and upset.
** As of recently I can't even boot up ESO without it crashing. Yet it is labeled Mac compatible. This is happening with the troubleshooting step using display menu. I have try to use better display and it still doesn't work.

Here's that infamous post that all Mac users dread. https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/59187
Edited by LividSugars on November 10, 2024 3:31AM
  • keto3000
    keto3000
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    I agree with this! I've subbed & played ESO on my mac ( orig an Intel based, now M1) since beta 2014.

    I went through all the iterations and the ups and downs of the updates & finally, once ESO mac client went fr 32 to 64 bit, most issues felt resolved. At least, the issues that exsted were on par with PC users.

    I love playing ESO. I only own a MAC.

    On my M1 mini, the game has been smooth UP UNTIL the latest Gold Road updates. Now the game regularly crashes a few minutes into game play, even in windowed mode & taking all the steps ( all addons off/on, etc.)

    I really encourage ZOS to reconsider and renew comitment to full & officia support for us dedicated Mac OS customers.

    I love this game and its community. Hope devs reconsider!
    “The point of power is always in the present moment.”

    ― Louise L. Hay
  • LividSugars
    LividSugars
    Soul Shriven
    keto3000 wrote: »
    I agree with this! I've subbed & played ESO on my mac ( orig an Intel based, now M1) since beta 2014.

    I went through all the iterations and the ups and downs of the updates & finally, once ESO mac client went fr 32 to 64 bit, most issues felt resolved. At least, the issues that exsted were on par with PC users.

    I love playing ESO. I only own a MAC.

    On my M1 mini, the game has been smooth UP UNTIL the latest Gold Road updates. Now the game regularly crashes a few minutes into game play, even in windowed mode & taking all the steps ( all addons off/on, etc.)

    I really encourage ZOS to reconsider and renew comitment to full & officia support for us dedicated Mac OS customers.

    I love this game and its community. Hope devs reconsider!

    I highly doubt they're going to reconsider. I'm on the verge of completely unsubbing and uninstalling the game. It's just been getting worse and worse over the past months, and I don't like being lied to. It's pretty much unplayable for me now. Tragedy, as this is one of my most played games of all time, so it is what it is. World of Warcraft works amazingly on Mac, so if you have never played that or been a while, I definitely recommend giving that a go! Been loving it so far after not playing for many years. I really hope ZOS reconsiders this issue because I'm really on the verge of just completely uninstalling and unsubbing like I mentioned. If I don't get a response back from a dev on this forum possibly confirming actual Mac compatibility without being lied to in a week, I'm unsubing and uninstalling. I know it probably means nothing, but yeah. 
    Edited by LividSugars on November 15, 2024 5:24AM
  • CrushDepth
    CrushDepth
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    That is interesting. For the most part, my experience on a mini M2 has been just the opposite. I have had crashes to desktop, but not that often. Therefore, I left WoW behind and canceled that subscription. Now, I have had to repair the software twice in the past 6 months.
    Today there appears to be a complete megaserver issue, therefore, I can't say that is a Mac concern.
  • Lyraen_Skyforge
    Lyraen_Skyforge
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    i started using steam on my mac to run ESO and it really worked so much better.
  • keto3000
    keto3000
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    RomanRex wrote: »
    i started using steam on my mac to run ESO and it really worked so much better.

    Can you tell me more about the Steam performance? I'm on a Mac M1 mini & all runs fine except i notice aot more lagging and rubberbanding since Gold Road 43/44.

    I have Steam but have alwasy had my ESO account direct, not through Steam. If it runs better, how can I move my cureent characters, etc to the Steam one?

    Past few weeks, when my desktop shifts if i open anonther app, my ESO game just unexpecetedly crashes.
    Edited by keto3000 on December 13, 2024 7:31AM
    “The point of power is always in the present moment.”

    ― Louise L. Hay
  • thedocbwarren
    thedocbwarren
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    Mine has died completely with no way to launch. I reinstall, remove files, nothing works. It won't start up any more. I have to play in parallels, a PC, or GeForce now at this point. Any even those platforms drop, crash, or have huge lag.
    Edited by thedocbwarren on December 24, 2024 7:40AM
  • Balgrim
    Balgrim
    The non-support of ARM (Apple Silicon) processors by the developers of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), despite the promotion and sale of the game on their official website, effectively raises legitimate questions, both ethically and practically. The fact that the game is presented as compatible with macOS on the official website, without clear and visible mention of specific limitations to recent machines equipped with Apple Silicon processors (M1, M2, etc.), is perceived as a communication failure. Buyers, especially those who own recent Macs, could reasonably assume that the game will work natively or at least correctly on their hardware, especially with Apple's transition to ARM started since 2020. Not explicitly warning of potential problems (such as lack of native support or poor performance via emulation) may deceive customers and damage trust in developers and the publisher. Apple has pushed a rapid transition to its ARM processors, accompanied by tools such as Rosetta 2 to facilitate the compatibility of x86 applications. However, this solution is not optimal for demanding games like ESO, which require high performance and extensive integration with hardware. On the other hand, ESO developers have chosen not to invest in a native port for Apple Silicon, probably arguing a low return on investment given the relatively small size of the player base on Mac. It leaves recent Mac users in a frustrating position, especially without prior warning of the use of Rosetta 2 to run the game, which often leads to suboptimal performance (low FPS, graphical bugs, etc.), or even total incompatibility in some cases. Even if tips exist (play in windowed mode, adjust the resolution, use an external screen), they are neither official nor guaranteed, and their effectiveness varies. Promoting a game without guaranteeing a playable experience on a platform widely adopted by Apple for several years is problematic, especially when the hardware in question is powerful and capable of running demanding titles with an adapted port.
    Selling a product while knowing that it will not work properly on a significant part of the targeted machines, without clearly reporting it, borders on a questionable commercial practice. Players who buy ESO for Mac, along with extensions or an ESO Plus subscription, may feel wronged if they discover afterwards that their experience is degraded or non-existent on Apple Silicon. A simple warning on the purchase page - for example, "Not optimized for Apple Silicon processors, limited support for Intel Macs" - could have avoided many frustrations.
    Other publishers, such as Larian Studios with Baldur's Gate 3, have shown that a native port to Apple Silicon was feasible and could offer a great experience on Mac M1/M2. This suggests that the problem is not technically insurmountable, but rather a question of priorities for ZeniMax. Their decision to maintain support only for Intel Macs, while ignoring an architecture that represents the future of Apple computers, seems short-term and not very visionary.
    In summary, the main criticism is the lack of clarity and proactivity of ESO developers. If they choose not to adapt the game to ARM processors, they should at least inform potential buyers of the limitations on recent Macs, especially when they continue to sell it as macOS compatible. This would prevent users from discovering problems at their own expense and preserve the reputation of the publisher. As long as no update or warning is integrated, this approach gives the impression of contempt for part of their community, which is all the more regrettable for an MMO that depends on the loyalty of its players.
  • TheBunny
    TheBunny
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    keto3000 wrote: »
    I agree with this! I've subbed & played ESO on my mac ( orig an Intel based, now M1) since beta 2014.

    I went through all the iterations and the ups and downs of the updates & finally, once ESO mac client went fr 32 to 64 bit, most issues felt resolved. At least, the issues that exsted were on par with PC users.

    I love playing ESO. I only own a MAC.

    On my M1 mini, the game has been smooth UP UNTIL the latest Gold Road updates. Now the game regularly crashes a few minutes into game play, even in windowed mode & taking all the steps ( all addons off/on, etc.)

    I really encourage ZOS to reconsider and renew comitment to full & officia support for us dedicated Mac OS customers.

    I love this game and its community. Hope devs reconsider!

    Always so nice to see you hang in there after all these years! :)
  • Amottica
    Amottica
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    Below is the official statement from Matt Firor after Apple announced the change to their systems several years ago.

    https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/59187

    I do not know if they have changed their view on supporting apple silicon or not nor do I know if Macs with intel chips are working fine.

  • valenwood_vegan
    valenwood_vegan
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    Amottica wrote: »
    Below is the official statement from Matt Firor after Apple announced the change to their systems several years ago.

    https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/59187

    I do not know if they have changed their view on supporting apple silicon or not nor do I know if Macs with intel chips are working fine.

    Just to add to that... since Matt's post is a bit dated now, it mentions using Stadia as a workaround, which is obviously no longer a thing. But I believe GeForce Now might currently provide a similar workaround.

    I also agree with folks who have mentioned that they should make the lack of ARM-mac support more clear in their advertising. I haven't seen any information to indicate a change in their stance on ARM support, unfortunately.

    EDIT to add... There's a bit of troubleshooting information for ARM-macs here: https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/#en/answer/52307; but I have no idea how useful any of this is.
    Edited by valenwood_vegan on March 2, 2025 2:55AM
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