GeForce NOW
Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
Difficulty: EasyCost: $9.89/mo (Boosteroid)Estimate
Streaming
How to play PAYDAY 2 on Mac
Action · 2013
Best played by streaming from the cloud via GeForce NOW.
Overall rating: Runs great on Mac · 100% of 1 players say it runs well
Your setup
Detect your Mac to see whether PAYDAY 2 will run.
Best played by streaming from the cloud via GeForce NOW.
How to run PAYDAY 2 on your Mac in 2026
Best path: GeForce NOW
GeForce NOW streams PAYDAY 2 from an RTX-class GPU straight to your Mac, with high-refresh play and nothing to install locally.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce NOWPick | Estimate | Easy | Free / $9.99 /mo | Get it ↗ |
| Parallels | Estimate | Medium | $99/yr | Get it ↗ |
| Boosteroid | Estimate | Easy | $9.95 /mo | Get it ↗ |
Heads up: GeForce NOW streams the game but doesn't include a copy — you'll still need to own PAYDAY 2 on a supported store (AllKeyShop).
PAYDAY 2
79
Metacritic
PAYDAY 2 is an action-packed, four-player co-op shooter that once again lets gamers don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew - Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains - as they descend on Washington DC for an epic crime spree.
While PAYDAY 2 lacks a native Apple Silicon port, it is highly playable via cloud streaming or through CrossOver with minor configuration tweaks.
What the world thinks
Performance
How PAYDAY 2 runs on your Mac, from our performance model and player reports.
See exactly how PAYDAY 2 will run on your Mac
Pick your chip and RAM for a personalised estimate.
Best way to play it on Mac
While PAYDAY 2 lacks a native Apple Silicon port, it is highly playable via cloud streaming or through CrossOver with minor configuration tweaks.
See if this is the right method for your setup
Ways to play PAYDAY 2 on Mac
Boosteroid and GeForce NOW are also available for cloud performance on a strong connection.
Parallels
Full Windows 11 ARM inside macOS.
Difficulty: MediumCost: $99/year + Windows licenceEstimate
Boosteroid
Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
Difficulty: EasyCost: $9.95 / 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
- GeForce NOWCloudTop pickSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
- BoosteroidCloudSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
- ParallelsVMSetupModerateTime30 minOverheadHigh
Where to buy PAYDAY 2
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 PAYDAY 2 on Mac with GeForce NOW
Estimate· StreamingStreaming PAYDAY 2 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 PAYDAY 2.
- 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.
How to run PAYDAY 2 on Mac with Parallels
Estimate· CompatibilityUsing Parallels to play PAYDAY 2 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 PAYDAY 2.
- 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 PAYDAY 2 on Mac with Boosteroid
Estimate· StreamingStreaming PAYDAY 2 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 PAYDAY 2 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.
Our recommendation
For most Mac players the best way to play PAYDAY 2 is streaming it through GeForce NOW. Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce NOWPick | Estimate | Easy | Free tier / $9.99+ per month |
| Parallels | Estimate | Medium | $99/year + Windows licence |
| Boosteroid | Estimate | Easy | $9.95 / month |
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