Macbook Air M3 16GB RAM 512SSD: Game Won't Boot

[Eweyhen]

I just downloaded the game for the first time in a while, but the game refuses to boot. I get a message that says the game has been "Corrupted" and wants me to uninstall the game. Not sure what to do since I know Civ 6 is supported on M-Series chips.

Any insight is appreciated!

[SLG]

https://steamcommunity.com/app/289070/discussions/0/340412628172881722/

[Copernicus]

This message comes from a security feature in MacOS called "Gatekeeper"; Apple has set up a system where each developer "signs" their executable using a cryptographic key, which is then checked when the application is installed on a target computer. For whatever reason, Aspyr (the company which creates the Mac port for Civ VI) hasn't been able to properly sign their product for several years now. You can still install the game by bypassing Gatekeeper, which should involve a process like the following (it differs slightly on different versions of MacOS):

After receiving the "damaged" error message,
- Open the Mac System Settings.
- Select "Privacy and Security".
- Select "Security Settings"
- In the Security Settings, you should see a prompt saying "Civilization VI was blocked..." Click the "Open Anyway" button under this text.
- Enter your system password if prompted.

WARNING: This game is NOT currently supported on M-series chips! It only works for now because Apple is using "Rosetta" to emulate an x86 processor on those CPUs. Rosetta will not last forever, and when Apple gets rid of it Civ VI will no longer be playable on these machines.

[Eweyhen]

Originally posted by Copernicus:

This message comes from a security feature in MacOS called "Gatekeeper"; Apple has set up a system where each developer "signs" their executable using a cryptographic key, which is then checked when the application is installed on a target computer. For whatever reason, Aspyr (the company which creates the Mac port for Civ VI) hasn't been able to properly sign their product for several years now. You can still install the game by bypassing Gatekeeper, which should involve a process like the following (it differs slightly on different versions of MacOS):

After receiving the "damaged" error message,
- Open the Mac System Settings.
- Select "Privacy and Security".
- Select "Security Settings"
- In the Security Settings, you should see a prompt saying "Civilization VI was blocked..." Click the "Open Anyway" button under this text.
- Enter your system password if prompted.

WARNING: This game is NOT currently supported on M-series chips! It only works for now because Apple is using "Rosetta" to emulate an x86 processor on those CPUs. Rosetta will not last forever, and when Apple gets rid of it Civ VI will no longer be playable on these machines.

Thank you. I just assumed since it was on the Mac App store it would also support M-Series. I'll just run it on my Windows Machine when I can.

[Copernicus]

Originally posted by Eweyhen:

Thank you. I just assumed since it was on the Mac App store it would also support M-Series. I'll just run it on my Windows Machine when I can.

Ah, let me apologize if I caused yet more confusion. Let me describe the situation in greater detail:

The current port of Civ VI for the Mac was compiled to run on Intel-based Macs. It was not designed for M-Series-based Macs, and Aspyr (the company which created the port) does not appear to be trying to update it.

However, Apple provides a program called "Rosetta" with each current copy of MacOS. Your Mac can run Rosetta to cause the M-Series CPU to masquerade as an Intel CPU. Therefore, your M-Series Mac can run all existing Intel-based Mac software, including Civ VI.

Apple will eventually want to get rid of Rosetta. When they do, all the older Intel software will become unusable on your machine (unless it has been recompiled to work with the native CPU). But for now, you can still run Civ VI.