Mac compatibility
Can you play The Elder Scrolls Online on a Mac?
Short answer: There's an official Mac client (Intel build, so Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon) — use that. The Windows client through Grapple is untested.
What we know
The Elder Scrolls Online has had an official Mac client since launch. Steam lists it for Windows and macOS, and ZeniMax Online also distributes it through the ESO launcher.
Worth knowing: the Mac client is an Intel build, so on an Apple Silicon Mac it runs through Apple's Rosetta 2 translation rather than natively. It is still the supported way to play on a Mac.
The Windows requirements list DirectX 11, which Grapple's DXMT layer translates to Metal. We haven't run the Windows version through Grapple, so anything about it here is an expectation, not a result.
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 10/11: a new install is set to Automatic, which picks D3DMetal or DXMT for you. If the game won't start or renders wrongly, naming a layer is the usual next try:
grapple set Steam graphics dxmt - To see frame rates, turn on the Metal HUD:
grapple set Steam hud on
Test record
None yet.
Played it on Grapple?
Tell other players whether The Elder Scrolls Online works for you. One tap does it.
FAQ
Can I play The Elder Scrolls Online on a Mac?
ZeniMax Online ships an official Mac client — on the same Steam app, or from the ESO launcher. It's an Intel build, so on Apple Silicon it runs through Rosetta 2. 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 The Elder Scrolls Online from working?
There's a native Mac version too — this expectation is about the Windows version run through Grapple.
Which DirectX does The Elder Scrolls Online use?
The Elder Scrolls Online's requirements list DirectX 11. Grapple starts it on D3DMetal, Apple's DirectX 11 and 12 translator, which Grapple includes and uses by default.
Is there a Mac version of The Elder Scrolls Online?
ZeniMax Online ships an official Mac client — on the same Steam app, or from the ESO launcher. It's an Intel build, so on Apple Silicon it runs through Rosetta 2.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page comes from these. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
- Steam store page — system requirements and supported platforms (checked 23 September 2026)
- ESO Support — How do I install the Mac client for The Elder Scrolls Online? (checked 23 September 2026)
Try The Elder Scrolls Online 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.
The Elder Scrolls Online is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the game. Grapple isn't affiliated with or endorsed by ZeniMax Online Studios.