MacOS Catalina: Will Portal 2 be updated to 64 bit?

[Dreamoni]

So, first let me establish that I am aware of the fact that I am the minority as a Mac user on the Steam platform. Having said that, I would like to point out that Portal 2 is often regarded as one of the, if not 'the' best games available for Mac. Frankly, I want to see Portal 2 (and other Valve games) survive the transition to 64-bit.

Is there any information about how Valve intends to move forward with their first party titles on future 64-bit-only Mac Operating Systems?

[DreiPixel]

why would it need to be updated to 64bit?

there just no need for portal 2to be updated to 64bit.

[Dreamoni]

It would need to be 64 bit because MacOS Catalina will be dropping all support for 32 bit applications. If Portal 2 or any other game is not updated to 64 bit then it will no longer run on Mac operating systems after the next version is released.

[General Winter]

is MacOS so bad it can't support backwards compatibility for 32 bit applications?

in a more serious note you should be able to play portal 2 fine, if there is an issue, it won't be related to your OS being 64 bit, 64 bit OS as it would imply, can handle much more than 32 bit applications

[Dreamoni]

Question:

Publicado originalmente por General Winter:

is MacOS so bad it can't support backwards compatibility for 32 bit applications?

Answer: Yes

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/your-macs-next-software-update-will-kill-off-32-bit-apps-heres-what-that-means-for-you/

Alright... I would like clarify at this time that I have I independently researched this problem and it is not illusory. I understand how unbelievable the concept of Mac OS dropping all 32 bit support sounds... but it is, unfortunately, the cold, hard truth.

I would like to respectfully ask again– without being dismissed– is Valve going to update their first party software to 64 bit on Mac OS?

[Zethex]

I don't really think so, most games are made for 32bit. Valve would probably need to update all their games that just Portal 2. When Canonical announced they were going to drop 32bit support in Ubuntu, Steam just decided they wouldn't have Ubuntu as their "supported" Linux distro (and target their compatibility against another distro that supports 32bit) instead of update all their games to 64bit (and other developers who mainly target for Windows not caring about OS X/linux probably wouldn't update too). Later then Canonical said they decided they would keep selected 32bit libraries so that didn't really last long.

But what my point is that it probably won't happen, we've seen the same situation happen with Ubuntu and they didn't update to 64bit.

[Dreamoni]

So... I've reopened this thread.

I would have preferred that Zethex was correct, but MacOS Catalina is out now and alas, 32 bit support has been dropped... just as I had said...

Now, there are a few other threads going around that I have replied in regarding this subject, but I think we should go ahead and start emailing Valve about this... I'll try to keep this thread updated.

So far, this is all we have

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1055-ISJM-8568

I recommend the Mojave APFS Volume option for the time being.

[General Winter]

Publicado originalmente por Dreamoni:

So... I've reopened this thread.

I would have preferred that Zethex was correct, but MacOS Catalina is out now and alas, 32 bit support has been dropped... just as I had said...

Now, there are a few other threads going around that I have replied in regarding this subject, but I think we should go ahead and start emailing Valve about this... I'll try to keep this thread updated.

So far, this is all we have

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1055-ISJM-8568

I recommend the Mojave APFS Volume option for the time being.

they won't care, they'll just drop the support instead like Zethex said they did for linux distros who did the same thing

besides, making an application 64 bit isn't as straight forward as rebuilding it and im pretty sure even then its not worth the effort of doing so

[Dreamoni]

I'm gonna go into the land assumptions now... since that seems to be the realm in which these discussions exist.

I'm going to assume that EVERY post that is completely blowing this thing off with comments such as, "they won't care so their's no point" or "Mac Sux! :P" is NOT using Mac, and as such is not even invited to this conversation.

AFTER THIS POST ALL $H!7 POSTS GET REPORTED.

I'll thank you for them... maybe they will raise awareness for the MacOS cause.

This is not a discussion about the <2% of machines running some variant of linux, including MacOS wannabe Ubuntu. This is a discussion about the second most popular computer operating system with a ~10% market share.

I did not start this thread to ask what PC users think about games on MacOS, I explicitly asked if there was any information about Valve upgrading their games to 64 bit for MacOS.

Let this be made perfectly clear,

"IF Steam does NOT move forward it's offering of highly-rated, classic first-party games to the 64 bit era on Mac, THEN there is NO reason why mac users would not look for a different game store."

[Beetroot Bertie]

I can't see Mac customers abandoning Steam as a marketplace when new Mac titles are likely to be 64-Bit from now on. It's not like customers can buy a 64-Bit version Portal 2 on a different store anyway, and any Mac users into gaming are already likely (I would assume) to have accounts with Epic and GOG in addition to Steam. 3rd parties will still be releasing games on Steam regardless. Where else would you suggest they go to express their dissatisfaction and force Valve into action?

The reasons I think Mac users would still use Steam are simply its convenience and library (and perhaps the attractiveness of the sales). Unfortunately that library has shrunk all of a sudden for Catalina+ users now that 32-Bit executables are no longer functional and this is a sad prospect, especially from a game preservation point of view on a platform which is already marginalised and maligned by the gaming community (sweeping generalisation I know).

I too hope that Valve in their great and unmatched wisdom will update their titles and source engines eventually, especially considering how well regarded their 1st party titles are but I don't expect or feel entitled for them to do so (I just have to make a point of enjoying them while I can much like I would do with older console generations before backwards compatibility became a thing). I don't know what their Mac sales figures (or Team Fortress 2 hat sales) are like. Maybe that 10% market share is worth it to them (maybe not). I hope so, just so we can keep on saying how Portal 2 is one of best co-op games on Mac :).

They have deep enough pockets, but this is Valve so who knows?. If they announce something then maybe you'll get an answer to your question.

[General Winter]

Publicado originalmente por Beetroot Bertie:

I can't see Mac customers abandoning Steam as a marketplace when new Mac titles are likely to be 64-Bit from now on. It's not like customers can buy a 64-Bit version Portal 2 on a different store anyway, and any Mac users into gaming are already likely (I would assume) to have accounts with Epic and GOG in addition to Steam. 3rd parties will still be releasing games on Steam regardless. Where else would you suggest they go to express their dissatisfaction and force Valve into action?

The reasons I think Mac users would still use Steam are simply its convenience and library (and perhaps the attractiveness of the sales). Unfortunately that library has shrunk all of a sudden for Catalina+ users now that 32-Bit executables are no longer functional and this is a sad prospect, especially from a game preservation point of view on a platform which is already marginalised and maligned by the gaming community (sweeping generalisation I know).

I too hope that Valve in their great and unmatched wisdom will update their titles and source engines eventually, especially considering how well regarded their 1st party titles are but I don't expect or feel entitled for them to do so (I just have to make a point of enjoying them while I can much like I would do with older console generations before backwards compatibility became a thing). I don't know what their Mac sales figures (or Team Fortress 2 hat sales) are like. Maybe that 10% market share is worth it to them (maybe not). I hope so, just so we can keep on saying how Portal 2 is one of best co-op games on Mac :).

They have deep enough pockets, but this is Valve so who knows?. If they announce something then maybe you'll get an answer to your question.

going off this; it is definitely possible, but again unlikely

their old games don't sell like they used to and this isn't even valves fault so i can't see them taking the effort to making their old game's 64 bit just for mac os; the things valve does for these older titles is mostly basic security updates since people still play multiplayer for classic CS and HL despite their age (and maybe some quick QoL updates like with additional controller support, far easier than making the game 64bit, especially depending on the circumstance of their development environment)



the most realistic option is going to be you having to run these older titles inside a VM if you want to play them which considering their age should be very do-able on modern hardware

[Beetroot Bertie]

Yeah. It's a shame Apple don't make it easier (by that I mean legal) to run older OS' on newer hardware that ships with more recent versions of Mac OS. I assume newer machines that ship natively with Catalina are unlikely to allow a dual boot with Mojave since it's an older OS.

They helped bridge such gaps in the past with Classic mode when OSX first came out and later with Rosetta to help with the transition to Intel from PowerPC which was welcome at the time but it seems like they're going for a hard break this time.

It looks like CodeWeavers are still working hard to get CrossOver 19 ready for WINE-based running of Windows apps in Catalina so that might be an option down the line if they can get good results. Maybe it's a bigger ask once all the 32-bit stuff is jettisoned?

I'd imagine using Bootcamp with Windows is likely the best way in terms of game performance compared to VMs or WINE-based solutions though.

One option I'd be tentatively hopeful for might be the release of games' source code so others can then update the engines - much like what we've seen with Duke Nukem and Quake etc but I don't know if that's something Valve would do so readily with still highly recognised IPs, especially with Half-Life 3 coming out so soon .

[puderkat]

Publicado originalmente por Beetroot Bertie:

Yeah. It's a shame Apple don't make it easier (by that I mean legal) to run older OS' on newer hardware that ships with more recent versions of Mac OS. I assume newer machines that ship natively with Catalina are unlikely to allow a dual boot with Mojave since it's an older OS.

They helped bridge such gaps in the past with Classic mode when OSX first came out and later with Rosetta to help with the transition to Intel from PowerPC which was welcome at the time but it seems like they're going for a hard break this time.

It looks like CodeWeavers are still working hard to get CrossOver 19 ready for WINE-based running of Windows apps in Catalina so that might be an option down the line if they can get good results. Maybe it's a bigger ask once all the 32-bit stuff is jettisoned?

I'd imagine using Bootcamp with Windows is likely the best way in terms of game performance compared to VMs or WINE-based solutions though.

One option I'd be tentatively hopeful for might be the release of games' source code so others can then update the engines - much like what we've seen with Duke Nukem and Quake etc but I don't know if that's something Valve would do so readily with still highly recognised IPs, especially with Half-Life 3 coming out so soon .

I agree with the part about releasing source codes because Portal Stories: Mel can't update to 64bit unless it has the source code for Portal 2

[Dreamoni]

Publicado originalmente por byteau:

Well, CS:GO was updated to 64-bit, but I'm pretty sure that's only because it makes valve a ton of money, because of lootboxes. Portal 2 on the other hand probably makes Valve next to no money now, so there really isn't a reason for them to make it 64-bit.

I could also be completely wrong since Valve still release updates for their oldest games. Mind you they're minor bugfixes but still.

My opinion; don't hold your breath. If you really want to be playing Portal 2 you could run Steam in WINE, or Dualboot Linux onto your Mac.

I offer a friendly counter about Portal 2 not making any money for Steam on Mac. Portal 2 is often sited as the best coop game for Macs. I see it as the kind of killer app (or at least a part of a killer app portfolio) that makes steam a must-install on Mac computers. So, while it may not make very much money directly, I believe there is value to having it available. This is only my opinion though, I don't pretend to know how Valve sees things.

and touching on the WINE/Dualboot Linux... firstly, WINE is not a work around for the 32 bit issue, yet. "They" are supposedly working on it. I strongly believe that for Macs that can do so, installing a Mojave(or High Sierra) Volume with APFS is a superior option. The biggest advantage being that the 'partition' is dynamically allocated, i.e. it doesn't take up any more space than neccessary.

Glad to see such a healthy discussion going on here!
Cheers

[Portgordon]

I'm also interested in this conversation.

Feral updated the Arkham games for 64-bit which I was very pleased about:
https://www.feralinteractive.com/en/news/949/

I'd be even more pleased if they'd release Arkham Knight for Mac but that's definitely not a conversation for this thread! :)

On the plus side, the following website lists Portal and Portal 2 as "Not yet Updated", and whereas that's not confirmation that it definitely will be, it's promising that the games are not listed as Discontinued:

https://www.macgamerhq.com/opinion/32-bit-mac-games/

Fingers crossed for an update for the Mac.

[General Winter]

Publicado originalmente por Beetroot Bertie:

Yeah. It's a shame Apple don't make it easier (by that I mean legal) to run older OS' on newer hardware that ships with more recent versions of Mac OS. I assume newer machines that ship natively with Catalina are unlikely to allow a dual boot with Mojave since it's an older OS.

They helped bridge such gaps in the past with Classic mode when OSX first came out and later with Rosetta to help with the transition to Intel from PowerPC which was welcome at the time but it seems like they're going for a hard break this time.

It looks like CodeWeavers are still working hard to get CrossOver 19 ready for WINE-based running of Windows apps in Catalina so that might be an option down the line if they can get good results. Maybe it's a bigger ask once all the 32-bit stuff is jettisoned?

I'd imagine using Bootcamp with Windows is likely the best way in terms of game performance compared to VMs or WINE-based solutions though.

One option I'd be tentatively hopeful for might be the release of games' source code so others can then update the engines - much like what we've seen with Duke Nukem and Quake etc but I don't know if that's something Valve would do so readily with still highly recognised IPs, especially with Half-Life 3 coming out so soon .

yeah, mac os is a ♥♥♥♥♥ n a half to run in a VM (cause apple hates anything that doesn't directly make them money within THEIR eco system)

what you can do OS wise is get virtually any linux OS that can run 32 bit apps and steam and you should be able to play portal 2, quite the work around but again, it works if you really want to play portal 2 while keeping a mac os as the host/primary OS that's going to be your most realistic option