Mac compatibility
Can you play Borderlands 2 on a Mac?
Short answer: There's a native Mac version on Steam — the easy route. The Windows version lists DirectX 9, so it's a reasonable Grapple candidate, but we haven't tested it.
What we know
Steam ships a macOS build of Borderlands 2 (ported by Aspyr) with the same purchase as the Windows version. Steam's Mac requirements list macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, so check it against your Mac first. If your Mac meets those requirements, the native version is the better route — nothing is being translated.
The Windows version is what Grapple would run. Its requirements list DirectX 9 among the required software and a DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card.
DirectX 9 predates DXMT, so Grapple runs it through Wine's own WineD3D layer, which has handled DirectX 9 for years. That's an expectation, not a result — we haven't tested it yet.
Steam says it uses a SHiFT account (which can be linked to Steam).
Grapple settings
Nothing verified yet. Where to start, based on its DirectX version (in the app, the same options are in the game's settings):
- DirectX 9 runs through WineD3D, Wine's own graphics layer, which Grapple picks for older games by itself. Nothing to set.
- To see frame rates, turn on the Metal HUD:
grapple set Steam hud on
Test record
None yet.
Played it on Grapple?
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FAQ
Can I play Borderlands 2 on a Mac?
Steam ships a macOS build of Borderlands 2 (ported by Aspyr) with the same purchase as the Windows version. Steam's Mac requirements list macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, so check it against your Mac first. Likely to work — not tested yet, but nobody has tested it with Grapple yet. That's what the game's published facts suggest, not a result. The page changes to Works once players report it working.
What might stop Borderlands 2 from working?
There's a native Mac version too — this expectation is about the Windows version run through Grapple.
Which DirectX does Borderlands 2 use?
Borderlands 2's requirements list DirectX 9. Grapple starts it on WineD3D, Wine's own graphics layer for DirectX 9 and older.
Is there a Mac version of Borderlands 2?
Steam ships a macOS build of Borderlands 2 (ported by Aspyr) with the same purchase as the Windows version. Steam's Mac requirements list macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, so check it against your Mac first.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page comes from these. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
- Steam store page — system requirements, supported platforms, DRM and anti-cheat notices (checked 28 September 2026)
Try Borderlands 2 yourself
Grapple's Free plan runs one game, forever, so you can find out on your own Mac without paying. Then tell us how it went with the buttons above, so the next player knows.
Borderlands 2 is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the game. Grapple isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Gearbox Software.