Bourbon 26

Run Steam and Windows games on Apple Silicon without the setup maze.

Bourbon 26 is a native Mac app that helps you install and manage the Windows gaming stack on Apple Silicon. Instead of manually configuring Rosetta, Homebrew, MoltenVK, Wine Staging, DXVK, Steam, and optional Game Porting Toolkit tools, Bourbon gives you one clean setup flow.

Open Bourbon, check Permissions, click Set Up Everything, sign into Steam, install your game, and play.

Why Bourbon?

Running Windows games on Mac is possible, but the setup can be painful. Bourbon focuses on making that process simple, maintainable, and friendly.

It is not a Windows virtual machine and does not require a Windows license. Bourbon runs Windows games through compatibility and graphics translation layers directly on macOS.

Features

• One-click setup for Rosetta 2, Homebrew, MoltenVK, Wine Staging 11, Steam, DXVK, and the Steam UI fix
• New Permissions panel to catch setup blockers before install
• Steam install, launch, stop, repair, and update support
• Wine Staging 11 path for Steam and Windows games
• DXVK and MoltenVK support for DirectX-to-Vulkan-to-Metal translation
• Optional Game Porting Toolkit 3 / D3DMetal launch path
• Experimental Game Porting Toolkit 4 Beta DMG import flow
• Manual .exe and .msi launching for downloaded Windows apps and games
• Native cloud gaming windows for Xbox Cloud, GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, and Boosteroid
• External and secondary drive support for Steam libraries
• Movable Bourbon data folder for users who need more space
• Developer ID signed and Apple notarized public builds

Steam on Mac, Without the Terminal Fight

Once Bourbon is set up, Steam runs inside a configured Wine environment. You can sign into your real Steam account, install supported Windows games from your library, and launch them normally.

You can also open Games & Apps, choose a Windows .exe manually, or open downloaded .exe/.msi files with Bourbon from Finder.

D3DMetal and Game Porting Toolkit

Bourbon includes an optional D3DMetal path for games or apps you choose manually.

• Game Porting Toolkit 3 is the supported optional path and tracks the Homebrew cask.
• Game Porting Toolkit 4 Beta is experimental. Bourbon can open Apple’s download page and import the downloaded GPTK 4 DMG.

GPTK 4 is marked experimental because Apple’s newer beta tools may require newer macOS/Xcode beta environments for the full developer workflow. GPTK 3 remains the default supported D3DMetal option.

Cloud Gaming Shortcuts Included

Bourbon also opens popular cloud gaming services in clean native WebKit windows:

• Xbox Cloud
• GeForce NOW
• Amazon Luna
• Boosteroid

These services require their own accounts or subscriptions. Bourbon simply gives you a cleaner native launcher window.

Important Compatibility Note

Not every Windows game will work.

Games with kernel-level anti-cheat, aggressive DRM, unsupported launchers, unusual dependencies, or very new graphics features may fail or require future updates. Bourbon simplifies setup and maintenance; it does not guarantee that every Windows game works on every Mac.

Bourbon does not strip, crack, bypass, or remove DRM. You sign into your own Steam account and play games you legally own.

Requirements

• Apple Silicon Mac: M1, M2, M3, M4, or newer
• macOS 14 Sonoma or later
• Administrator account recommended for first-time setup
• Internet connection for the lightweight download
• Enough disk space for Steam, Wine support files, and games

What’s New in 26.7.5.2

• Permissions panel — Bourbon now checks admin access, Homebrew folder ownership, the data folder, and Command Line Tools before setup.
• More reliable Homebrew installs — setup now uses the standard macOS administrator password prompt instead of failing silently.
• GPTK 3 tracking — Game Porting Toolkit 3 now has an Update action and tracks the Homebrew cask.
• GPTK 4 Beta support — Bourbon can open Apple’s download page and import the downloaded GPTK 4 beta DMG.
• Release improvements — public builds are Developer ID signed, notarized, and easier to ship as point releases.

Price

Bourbon 26 is available for $29.99.

Buy once, own it for life. No subscription. Major upgrades may be offered separately, but your current copy keeps working.

Who Is This For?

Bourbon 26 is for Mac users who want the easiest path to try Windows Steam games without manually configuring Wine, translation layers, launch scripts, and setup fixes.

If you want to tinker with every setting yourself, you can still do that manually. If you want the fastest route from “I have a Mac” to “Steam is launching my Windows game,” Bourbon is built for you.

Support

Need help or want to report a compatibility issue?

Join the Discord

Final Note

Bourbon is not magic, and Mac gaming compatibility will always depend on the game, the launcher, Apple’s tools, Wine updates, and the Mac you are using. But if you want a simpler, cleaner, actively maintained way to get started, Bourbon 26 is one of the easiest ways to run Windows Steam games on Apple Silicon today.