Mac compatibility
Can you play Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition 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 Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition (ported by Feral Interactive) with the same purchase as the Windows version. Steam's Mac requirements list macOS 10.15 and a 1.1 GHz Intel Core M or better, 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 call for 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware.
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.
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.
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FAQ
Can I play Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition on a Mac?
Steam ships a macOS build of Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition (ported by Feral Interactive) with the same purchase as the Windows version. Steam's Mac requirements list macOS 10.15 and a 1.1 GHz Intel Core M or better, 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 Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition from working?
There's a native Mac version too — this expectation is about the Windows version run through Grapple.
Which DirectX does Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition use?
Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition'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 Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition?
Steam ships a macOS build of Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition (ported by Feral Interactive) with the same purchase as the Windows version. Steam's Mac requirements list macOS 10.15 and a 1.1 GHz Intel Core M or better, 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 Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition yourself
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Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the game. Grapple isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Creative Assembly.