Games Will Not Launch

[SP8PY]

Pls halp
M1 Mini Ventura 13.3.1 - every game refuses to open.
I have completely cleared and reinstalled steam client multiple times to no avail.
Verifying game files does not help.
I have tried every solution I could find, including - https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/5814-D9A3-BE42-62DF
The steam client runs fine. I will click "play" on a game, it will say running for 5-10 seconds before changing back to play. No icon appears on the dock to indicate the game is running.
Internal and external HDD have been both tested.
Wtf is this? I can play steam through parallels just fine.
Any help is appreciated.

[okm9000]

I am having the same problem with my imac

[dope_zebra007]

I had this happen with the new MW2 about a month after it launched... I just want my money back at this point

[Lugee]

Hello SP8PY

do you get any error information in log files? Either open them directly or in the Console?
If you're not aware of the application "Console" do a search for this on Apple Support or somewhere else...

There (in "Console") you even should be able to search for either "steam" or the game title to find more information about the problem.

We can continue if you think this might help and no other help is near… ;-/
Good luck!

[coinoper8edboy]

SP8PY I was having the same issue, I installed a beta version and it works. To install the beta version go to steam-preferences-account-beta participation.

[SP8PY]

Thanks for your replies!

coinoper8edboy - I gave that a shot, then uninstalled and reinstalled a few games. No luck.

Lugee - When I try to open the app directly from the folder, the icon as a "Prohibition sign" (the circle with a line through it) over top and it says "you cant open the app because it is damaged or incomplete". This is after verifying the integrity of the files as well. I checked the crash report, here is what I found -

Termination Reason: Namespace DYLD, Code 1 Library missing
Library not loaded: @loader_path/libSDL2-2.0.0.dylib

Then 4 or 5 files that it can not find as part of the application contents.

So somewhere the game isn't downloading or being referenced properly? Idunno. I just wanna play games. Very tempted to try Epic Games launcher even though I'd have to buy something to see if it works or has a similar issue. Or find another way to get the games I want to play... If this is simply the steam client getting in the way, I'm done with it.

[Lugee]

Hi again!

Tried to find more helping hints… found "scary" stuff:

"... if you install onto a Darwin formatted device with case sensitivity, the game will not load properly. The game at the moment expects lowercase filenames."

Hopefully not the case with your install?

[SP8PY]

Originally posted by Lugee:

Hi again!

Tried to find more helping hints… found "scary" stuff:

"... if you install onto a Darwin formatted device with case sensitivity, the game will not load properly. The game at the moment expects lowercase filenames."

Hopefully not the case with your install?

Appreciate your continued assistance - however, I am using APFS drives that are not case sensitive.

Am trying a few things, will update with results..

Edit - Installed Rosetta 2 and added the sdl2.framework to my system.
Reinstalled Rust after this and it worked, no crash.
Rocket League still won't load, but its progress I suppose. Trying Civ 6 next. Tbh those are really the only games I have any intention of playing on this system.

Also I found having my ps4 controller connected was causing steam to crash. Bluetooth or wired, doesn't matter. Friggin weird.

[Lugee]

Hey :)

at least… something's working.

Controller (Sony DualShock) sometimes crashing Steam I do also experience… but most of the time when I switch it off while Steam still running.

Civ6 seems to have issues with newer macOS (Ventura IIRC)… sorry to say that :-/
There are threads about this here in "discussions".

BTW: if you have enough disk space why not try sth else?
Games which are free for example - or pretty cheap.

https://alvarotrigo.com/blog/free-mac-steam-games/
or
https://steamdb.info/sales/?cc=eu&os=macos&max_price=1&min_reviews=0&min_rating=85&min_discount=0

And a lot of the games which are marked as 32 Bit only are running even on 64 Bit & Silicon…

[SP8PY]

Hey Lugee, thanks for your reply.

My situation is similar as the controller is concerned - once it's disconnected, steam crashes.

Yeah, unfortunately Civ wont work either. However, the application is verifying when it decides to quit - in contrast to Rocket League, which won't boot to begin with.

I really appreciate your suggestions - I am willing to try anything new at this point given the state of games (lol? idk, all I can do is laugh). Rust works, so thats cool. Rocket League works through parallels, albeit at 720p. I'm giving up on civ for now - TOTK will be out in 4 weeks and I'll probably not think about civ for another year.

I can't help but feel a little disillusioned by the whole situation... I was advertised "native compatibility with apple silicon" yet I am forced to discover my own solutions to problems that seemingly come out of nowhere.

I suppose it is the lack of users in this situation - most would opt for a PC, it makes sense.
I do not expect out of the box compatibility - I do expect resources on how to mitigate my issues.
These barely exist. Seems it just isn't worth it.
I am no newcomer to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around. I am typing this from an iMac G4.
I figured it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to squeeze some leisure out of my work computer, as this has been the case for the last 2 decades.

As it seems to be, we will have to sacrifice more and more, less we wish to continue having excess just to satisfy a compulsive need for basic access.
This M1 is more than enough power to play most PC games, but "compatibility" is our limitation I suppose.

I will continue playing what I can until I cant. The sun always shines.

Thanks again for your help ~

[Lugee]

Hello SP8PY,

you're very welcome! 8-)

I can fully understand your "disillusioned state", especially regarding games via Steam.
Focus of Valve/Steam is clearly Windows, of course.
Efforts for Mac will only take place according to the expected "effect" / RoI.

So there is a mix of reasons why gaming on Mac (especially via Steam) is mediocre, regardless of the great performance of the Apple Silicon Architecture.

Still the project "buying a PC (and adequate video card etc. and maintaining this system!)" just for gaming is not an option for me - because of time and money.
As I am a user of consoles for decades now I still have a "second leg" for gaming, currently an Xbox Series S. You even can play lot of AAA titles where there are no Mac versions etc.
If you're willing to pay the monthly subscription fee for the Xbox Game Pass you can play more than 24 hrs per day ;-) -- BTW: there are ways to get the fee pretty down from the regular price. If you want to buy games on disc then the Series S is NOT an option.

Of course there are AAA games which are beautifully ported to Mac (for example RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE) - but often not available via Steam, though the Windows version is on Steam. Darn.
Apple is still promising now and then that gaming will be an "important topic" but the next macOS release may break again some games / features etc.
But currently happy that controller support is now working - sort of ;-/

So for me Steam still has a lot of nice Mac games/ports (currently love to play DEAD CELLS, with Controller 8-) yay!) and you also have the option to play some games via Windows (Parallels and ARM Windows 11 now being officially supported). Of course for AAA titles with need for best graphics performance etc. still no option.
But if you MAYBE will switch to WINDOWS sometime at least your Steam lib is not worthless then ;-)

If you like we can stay in contact about sharing information regarding working games (even when marked 32 Bit only working on Apple Silicon, lots of) and of course with Controller - or without.

BTW: Path of Exile (did I mention this already?) - for free:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/238960/Path_of_Exile/
Controller support for now only on Windows - arghh ;-)

Cheers!

[Beetroot Bertie]

The G4 iMac is a thing of loveliness. May it continue to serve you well and I'm pleased hear it's still working 2 decades on.

[Lugee]

sorry to drift off … ;-)

just another idea as also mentioned here:
https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games

Pretty crazy stuff on this page (hacking Steam): // NOT recommended, just for read

But the essence is:
There are games which run without needing/running Steam Client.
So maybe Rust is working therefore?!
Other games don't because of no contact to Steam app ?

---

So I just tested "Slay the Spire" and started it
directly from the SteamLibrary (two folders inside: ./steamapps/common)
=> and it didn't open Steam app.
So my guess: this would run at yours too.

"Mini Motorways" on the other hand when started directly => opens Steam app.
So perhaps no go on your system.

Please tell me more games you own for testing these…

[Oskenso]

I'm using a Ventura 13.4 on M2 and also having this issue. It's been happening since the beginning of a freshly opened macbook.

It seems like games aren't detecting that steam is running, including non games that launch within steam like substance 3d painter.

For example, Celeste game engine fails and says steam isn't running when it clearly is.

Monocle Engine Error Log
==========================================

5/19/2023 3:24:23 PM
Steam not found!

I've tried all the common methods including removing the entire steam data folder ( ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/)