Guild Wars 2 is now available for Mac: System requirements listed here
Guild Wars 2, the critically acclaimed MMORPG, is now available for Mac users, just a few short weeks after launching on PC.
Currently in beta testing, it’s great news for often-overlooked Mac gamers, who normally have to wait months for computer games to make it to their platform, if at all. Of course, those using Parallels Desktop software or with a Bootcamp Windows partition could already play Guild Wars 2, but a Mac-compatible client for the game is far more convenient, and whole-heartedly welcomed.
To pull off the quick Mac turnaround, ArenaNet has partnered with TransGaming to use their Cider technology that dynamically translates content between Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. As a result, the Mac beta is already connected to live game servers, meaning you can jump in and quest with pals straight away, or carry an existing PC Guild Wars 2 account over to the Mac without any fuss.
It also means that future Guild Wars 2 updates will land on Mac and PC simultaneously. However, the developers do stress that it’s currently in the beta stages, so expect some quirks and problems while the new system is tested.
“Bringing Guild Wars 2 to the Mac is huge for us, because it introduces the game to an entire group of players who are often ignored by game developers,” said the Guild Wars 2 team on their website.
“The ability to play together with your friends is one of the underlying principles of Guild Wars 2, and providing a Mac client means that friends and guildmates can play together regardless of what operating system they favor.”
To try out the new client, you’ll need to have an activated Guild Wars 2 game code, and then download it from the account management page. System requirements are as follows:
Mac OS®X 10.7.X or later
Intel® Core™ i5 or better
4 GB Ram or better
NVIDIA® GeForce® 320M, ATI Radeon™ HD 6630M, Intel HD 3000 or better
25 GB available HDD space
Broadband Internet connection
Keyboard and mouse/equivalent
The Mac beta version of Guild Wars 2 runs well on the below machines or better. Your results may vary if you’ve upgraded or changed your Mac hardware or are running on lower hardware specifications.
iMac 21.5″, 27″ (Mid-2010)
iMac 21.5″, 27″ (Mid-2011)
MacBook Pro 15″, 17″ (Mid-2010)
MacBook Pro 13″, 15″, 17″ (Early and Late-2011)
MacBook Pro 13″, 15″, 17 (Mid-2012)
Mac Mini (Mid-2011)
