How to play The Ascent on Mac

From Windows game to Mac launch

1. 01

   Install Pixel Port

   Download Pixel Port and let it set up the runtime on first launch.

2. 02

   Request The Ascent

   Find The Ascent in the app and request it. During the beta, our small team enables games manually for each user.

3. 03

   Or ask us on Discord

   Join the Pixel Port Discord and tell us you want to play The Ascent. That is usually the fastest way to get it enabled.

More games that run on Mac

• Halls of Torment

  Halls of Torment

• Tell Me Why

  Tell Me Why

• A Fistful of Gun

  A Fistful of Gun

Common questions

Does The Ascent run on Mac?

The Ascent is graded playable on Apple Silicon through Pixel Port's runtime. Its current grade is playable for Apple Silicon Macs. The Ascent is built on Unreal Engine, and Pixel Port's runtime translates its rendering to Metal automatically. It is not enabled in the beta yet, so request it in the app or join the Pixel Port Discord before trying to install it.

Do I need to own The Ascent on Steam?

Yes. Pixel Port does not sell, host, or distribute games. The Ascent downloads through Steam, to your own Steam account, exactly as it would on a PC — you need to own it there first. Pixel Port is the compatibility layer that runs the Windows build Steam delivers.

Do I need Windows, Boot Camp, or a VM to play The Ascent on Mac?

No. Pixel Port runs the Windows build of The Ascent directly on macOS — no Boot Camp partition, no virtual machine, and no Windows license.

Which Macs can run The Ascent?

Any Apple Silicon Mac — M1 through M4, MacBook Air to Mac Studio — on macOS 14 or later.