Parallels
Full Windows 11 ARM inside macOS.
Difficulty: MediumCost: $99 (Parallels) + Game CostEstimate
Parallels
How to play Call of Duty®: Black Ops II on Mac
Action · 2012
Best in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine via Parallels.
Overall rating: Runs great on Mac · 100% of 2 players say it runs well
Your setup
Detect your Mac to see whether Call of Duty®: Black Ops II will run.
Best in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine via Parallels.
How to run Call of Duty®: Black Ops II on your Mac in 2026
Best path: Parallels
Should run in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine (Parallels). This is an estimate — not a verified report. Demanding 3D titles may need lower settings.
- Heads up on Parallels: Estimated compatibility — no verified report yet
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ParallelsPick | Good | Medium | $99/yr | Get it ↗ |
| Boosteroid | Estimate | Easy | $9.95 /mo | Get it ↗ |
| GeForce NOW | Estimate | Easy | Free / $9.99 /mo | Get it ↗ |
Call of Duty®: Black Ops II
Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II propels players into a near future Cold War
Black Ops II is fully playable on Apple Silicon via Parallels, offering a stable experience for both the campaign and Zombies mode, though multiplayer is restricted to private matches or local play due to anti-cheat sensitivity.
What the world thinks
- Install Parallels Desktop: Ensure you are using at least version 18 or 19.
- Windows 11 Setup: Install Windows 11 ARM through the Parallels wizard.
- Steam Installation: Download and install Steam within the virtual machine.
- Graphics Settings: In Parallels' configuration, set the VM profile to 'Games Only' and allocate at least 4 CPU cores and 8GB of RAM.
- DirectX Setup: If prompted, allow Steam to install the legacy DirectX end-user runtimes required for older CoD titles.
- VMware Fusion 13: A free alternative for personal use. While performance is slightly lower than Parallels and input lag can be more noticeable, the game is playable on M2/M3 chips.
- CrossOver: While some users report success, Black Ops II frequently suffers from 'DirectX Error' crashes or UI flickering on CrossOver/Whisky due to its legacy DX9 hooks. Parallels is significantly more stable for this specific title.
Performance
How Call of Duty®: Black Ops II runs on your Mac, from our performance model and player reports.
See exactly how Call of Duty®: Black Ops II will run on your Mac
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Best way to play it on Mac
Black Ops II is fully playable on Apple Silicon via Parallels, offering a stable experience for both the campaign and Zombies mode, though multiplayer is restricted to private matches or local play due to anti-cheat sensitivity.
See if this is the right method for your setup
Ways to play Call of Duty®: Black Ops II on Mac
Boosteroid and GeForce NOW are also available for cloud performance on a strong connection.
Boosteroid
Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
Difficulty: EasyCost: $9.95 / monthEstimate
GeForce NOW
Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
Difficulty: EasyCost: Free tier / $9.99+ per monthEstimate
Compare methods at a glance
Lower = betterHow each supported method stacks up on setup effort, time and runtime overhead.
Method
Setup Difficulty
Time Investment
Performance Overhead
- ParallelsVMTop pickSetupModerateTime30 minOverheadHigh
- BoosteroidCloudSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
- GeForce NOWCloudSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
Where to buy Call of Duty®: Black Ops II
Live prices compared across trusted PC key sellers — updates every few hours.
Platform-by-platform reliability
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Step-by-step setup guides
Idiot-proof walkthroughs for every method.
How to run Call of Duty®: Black Ops II on Mac with Parallels
Estimate· CompatibilityUsing Parallels to play Call of Duty®: Black Ops II means running a full copy of Windows 11 ARM inside macOS. This is the most "it just works" approach for games that don't behave under CrossOver, and DirectX 11 is hardware-accelerated. You'll need a Windows license and roughly 80 GB of disk space.
Step-by-step
- Buy / start a trial of Parallels Desktop.
- Install Windows 11 ARM via the one-click wizard.
- Inside Windows, install Steam / Xbox app and Call of Duty®: Black Ops II.
- Enable DirectX 11 in Parallels settings for best 3D performance.
Video proof
Try Parallels Desktop free ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
How to run Call of Duty®: Black Ops II on Mac with Boosteroid
Estimate· StreamingStreaming Call of Duty®: Black Ops II through Boosteroid is the fastest way to start playing on a Mac — there's nothing to install, no Windows VM, no compatibility layer. The game runs on a remote GPU and your Mac just receives the video, which means even a base M1 MacBook Air can play the most demanding AAA titles at high settings. The tradeoff is that you need a stable internet connection (ideally wired or 5GHz Wi-Fi with 25+ Mbps down) and a subscription.
Step-by-step
- Create a Boosteroid account and pick a plan.
- Use the web client or download the macOS app.
- Add Call of Duty®: Black Ops II from their library (you'll need to own it on Steam/Epic).
Video proof
Get Boosteroid ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
How to run Call of Duty®: Black Ops II on Mac with GeForce NOW
Estimate· StreamingStreaming Call of Duty®: Black Ops II through GeForce NOW is the fastest way to start playing on a Mac — there's nothing to install, no Windows VM, no compatibility layer. The game runs on a remote GPU and your Mac just receives the video, which means even a base M1 MacBook Air can play the most demanding AAA titles at high settings. The tradeoff is that you need a stable internet connection (ideally wired or 5GHz Wi-Fi with 25+ Mbps down) and a subscription.
Step-by-step
- Sign up at GeForce NOW. The free tier works; Ultimate gives 4K/120fps.
- Download the GeForce NOW Mac app (Apple Silicon native).
- Link your Steam / Epic / Xbox account that owns Call of Duty®: Black Ops II.
- Search the title in the app and click Play.
Video proof
Start playing on GeForce NOW ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
Our recommendation
For most Mac players we recommend Parallels as the fastest, smoothest way to play Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. Full Windows 11 ARM inside macOS.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ParallelsPick | Good | Medium | $99/year + Windows licence |
| Boosteroid | Estimate | Easy | $9.95 / month |
| GeForce NOW | Estimate | Easy | Free tier / $9.99+ per month |
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