A Reddit user has shared a new workaround that lets users stream and play Xbox Game Pass games on M1 Macs. Thanks to Android Studio’s support for ARM images on M1 Macs, users can emulate an. It’s possible to connect Xbox One controller to Mac, but doing so requires a little bit of extra work. For a start, you can’t use Bluetooth to connect, so that’s the wireless route blocked right off the bat. You’ll also need to purchase a micro USB cable, since one isn’t included with Xbox One controllers like it is with a PS4 handset. The Xbox iOS app seemed the most promising, but it is not working for me. The controls go from the mac to the xbox, but for some reason, I only get the initial 'screenshot' of my dashboard, and it doesn't update/stream. I also tried Parallels with Windows 10 for ARM, but the 'Windows Store' apps don't seem to work. Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on Safari, not an app Don’t look for an Xbox Cloud Gaming application in the App Store. Apple put restrictive rules on cloud-gaming services wanting to appear in the App.
The Xbox One and PS4 have come along leaps and bounds since the initial launch back in 2013, adding a myriad of new features that enhance the overall gaming experience. One of the biggest additions is the ability to play Xbox One games via a secondary source, but it’s sadly not available on macOS.
So, what are macOS-based Xbox One gamers supposed to do? Buy a PC to stream games to? Of course not. In fact, a third-party company has released software that allows gamers to play Xbox One games on Mac. If you want to play the latest Xbox One exclusives on your Mac, keep on reading to find out how.
Can I play Xbox One games on my Mac?
Before we delve any further into the world of Xbox One games on Mac, we should ask whether it’s actually possible to do so.
So, can you pop an Xbox One game into your Mac and start playing with the Xbox One controller? Sadly not, although that would be quite the addition to macOS. Instead, as many gamers will already know, both Microsoft and Sony offer streaming services that allow you to play games via a secondary source; in this case, via your Mac.
But unlike Sony’s PS4 Remote Play, Microsoft’s streaming service isn’t officially supported on Mac, leaving Xbox One gamers out in the cold if they run macOS or OS X.
While that seems like it’d be the end of the discussion, a third-party company recently released OneCast, an Xbox One-focused app for Mac that allows you to stream Xbox One gameplay from the console to your Mac display, allowing you the same freedom that your PS4 brethren experience.
How to stream Xbox One games on Mac
OneCast is a great client for Mac-based Xbox One gamers, and offers a myriad of benefits including Bluetooth and USB connectivity for Xbox One controllers, 1080p streaming and the ability to remotely connect to more than one console/gamertag.
The catch is that it isn’t free; you can pick it up on sale at the moment for $11.99 (around £9.99 in the UK) or take part in the free two-week trial to see if it’s the client for you. If you’re interested in how to set up OneCast on your Mac, carry on reading!
- The first step is to head to the OneCast website and download the app. You can get a free trial for two weeks, and it’ll cost you around £9.99 if you want to carry on using it.
- Open the DMG file that you’ve just downloaded, and drag the OneCast app into your Applications folder.
- Open the OneCast app on your Mac. Make sure that both your Mac and Xbox One are connected to the same network, and that Game Streaming is enabled on your Xbox One (Settings > Preferences > Xbox App Connectivity).
- Sign in to the gamertag you want to use for game streaming, and select “Register Xbox One” in OneCast to search for the console on your network.
- Sign in to the Microsoft account that corresponds to the Xbox Live gamertag you want to use for gaming.
- Wait a few seconds for the console to register, and voila! You’re ready to stream the latest Xbox One games to your Mac.
Whether you’re trying to no-scope that enemy on COD or score a last-minute slam-dunk on NBA, the touchpad just doesn’t do it.
So, we thought we’d share the best tips on how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your Mac, to make them tense gaming moments a little easier.
Before you do: Clean up your Mac
BUT, before we get into all the juicy techy stuff, let’s remind you of how beneficial cleaning up your Mac can be.
Before installing any new hardware, it’s important to have an un-cluttered file space so the new software can run efficiently, and you can keep an eye on what’s where.
With CleanMyMac X, it’s easy. It’s one-click cleaning approach and powerful scanning means you can swiftly dispose of useless documents and apps which may be slowing your Mac down.
So, to get optimal controller connectivity, you should download CleanMyMac and tidy up your digital space – prior to any installations. Now, onto how to use an Xbox 360 controller on a Mac.
How to use the Xbox 360 controller on Mac
Not many of us know it, but there could be a handy use for all those old Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers lying around. But, before you get set up, you need to have the correct hardware installed on your Mac to enable connectivity.
Here’s how.
First of all, you will need either a wired or wireless Xbox controller. Both work fine, but for all those passionate gamers with a tendency to erupt, a wireless device would be best to save any damages to wires (or opponents). These wireless receivers can be bought for around $20 on Amazon, and can handle up to 4 Xbox 360 controllers.
Free Drivers
Obviously, Macs don’t have an in-built driver for Xbox controllers as Apple are in no way affiliated with Microsoft. Similarly, Microsoft doesn’t supply drivers for Mac users for their hardware, which leaves us wanting users having to find our own way.
So back in 2006, it was music to gamer’s ears to hear that Tattie Bogle had developed their own driver free of charge to users across the gaming globe. However, this driver hasn’t been updated since 2012, and is therefore sticky when it comes to compatibility with MacOS X.
For a more streamlined approach to this conundrum, download GitHub’s free driver – it’s maintained and updated frequently and is free to all Mac users.
1. Install the driver
After opening the GitHub link, double click on the DMG file visible under ‘Assets’. This will start the installing process, where you will have to follow the appropriate instructions.
Remember though, as with any new program installation, it will reboot your Mac, so don’t panic. After the restart, you should be able to find ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ in the system preferences.
2. Connect the Xbox 360 Controller to your Mac
Now you’ve installed the driver, the next step is to connect the controller, which is simple and only needs to be done once.
Firstly, you need to plug the USB receiver into a free USB port on your Mac. Once plugged in, the USB receiver’s light should start blinking
Press the big Xbox logo button on the controller so it lights up green
Press the button on the USB receiver
Press the connect button on the controller, which can be found at the top - in-between the left and right toggles
The top left quarter of the circle around the Xbox button should now light up, indicating you are the first controller connected
Now the controller and Mac are linked - so in the future if you want to connect again, all you need do is press the big Xbox logo button to get going. Told you it was simple!
3. Test the Controller
As with all things techy, there’s always loopholes. So, it’s important to test the connections to ensure the controller works before we embark upon a mobile-gaming-gallivant.
Go to ‘System Preferences’, ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ and you’ll see a screen like below.
This is a control pad, which indicates whether all the buttons on the controller are working properly. That’s about all you can do on this, as well as shutting the controller down by clicking ‘power off’.
4. Configuring for multiple games on your Mac
We all have different tastes in games - some of us like sports and some of us like military, there’s no right or wrong (asides from Half-Life, that’s just awesome and it’s not up for debate).
With these different games come different control configurations, which can get tedious when you only have one type of controller.
For full flexibility of use, there are many tools and apps available which allow you to play any game with any Mac compatible joystick or controller – even the ones that are not compatible with joysticks.
5. Use Joystick Mapper
Out of the many apps to choose from, Joystick Mapper is our pick. And at only $4.99 from the App Store, it’s real value for money – especially when considering the amount of effort it takes to develop such a complex tool.
Here’s how it works –
Once you download the Joystick Mapper app, you need to create a pre-set for your game preferences. To do this, open the app and click ‘Add new pre-set’.
Enter a name for future reference such as ‘My Game’, and for each joystick, click ‘Add a new joystick’.
Now that you’ve identified the joystick, you need to ‘bind’ joystick inputs to keyboard or mouse movements - which is easier than it sounds.
Click on ‘Add new bind’, and then ‘Scan’, and press the button of your game controller that you’d like to use. Next select a mouse or keyboard action, and that will ‘bind’ the chosen inputs.
Simply repeat this process until you’ve bound all the buttons you’d like to use.
If by chance you’re using a controller other than an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you can replicate these actions and apply them to different controllers. To do this, simply click the ‘Clone’ icon in the top right corner. To put the pre-set into action, set a checkmark before the preferred pre-set/profile you’ve created for the game you’re about to play. Now, you’re good to go!
BUT – don’t close the Joystick Mapper app before starting the game, it needs to keep running to work. Simply select ‘cmd + H’ to hide the window.
Declutter your Mac to make more room for games
Remember, all of these processes won’t work as effectively if you have a messy Mac.
On average, there is a whopping 62GB of junk found on Macs, with jam-packed caches and folders full of useless documents cluttering the hard drive.
How To Play Xbox One On Laptop
This considerably slows down the performance of your Mac, preventing quick and easy installations, and can even hinder the controller connectivity.
CleanMyMac X is an app dedicated to cleaning your Mac head-to-toe. It scans everything on the computer - even old folders that have been evading your wrath for years - identifying what needs to be removed.
The Mac is inspected rigorously, and with its smart one-click clean-up, CleanMyMac sweeps away the unwanted rubbish to organize folders and speed up performance.
How To Play Xbox On Macbook Pro
Furthermore, CleanMyMac X is free to download. So, what are you waiting for? Download it for free here.