Emulation takes much more power but tends to have a larger compatibility base because it doesn't need to translate anything between systems in the way compatibility layers do. Not every game or piece of software will actually work with a compatibility layer because some software is too hard to translate.

Having said that, there is a slight downside to this method. Related: How to Disable Steam's Automatic Launch on Windows and Mac So, if you're hoping to run a high-fidelity video game, you'll have a much easier time getting it to run on your hardware. Instead, Wine is a software compatibility layer that acts as a sort of translator between Windows software and non-Windows operating systems like macOS.īecause PlayOnMac uses a compatibility layer, not an emulator, it takes much less power to accomplish what it does. Unlike other methods of running Windows software, Wine doesn't emulate Windows itself.

PlayOnMac is an application for macOS that allows you to play Windows games through the use of software called Wine.

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