With Valve's impressive work on the Proton tool for Linux and the Game Porting Toolkit and CrossOver options for Mac, few games are truly “Windows only” these days. The exceptions are those with aggressive Windows-based anti-cheat tools, something that hit hard for gamers eager to dive into a new superhero shooter.
Marvel Rivalsa supervisionThe free-to-play hero shooter, released in early December 2024, has all the typical elements of big online games: an in-game store with skins and customizations, battle passes, and anti-cheat technology. While Proton, which powers the Linux-based Steam Deck's ability to play almost any Windows game, has come a long way in just a few years, its biggest blind spots are these types of online-only games, such as grand theft auto online, fortnite, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, and the like. The same goes for Mac gamers, who, if they can work with DirectX 12, can often get a Windows game running in CrossOver or Parallels, without anti-cheat tools.
Is there harm in trying? For a time, they were worth 100 years. As detailed on the r/macgaming subreddit and r/SteamDeck, many players who successfully obtained Marvel Rivals work would receive a “Penalty Issued” notice, with one violation “detected” and bans issued until 2124. If such a ban stands, gamers risk missing out entirely on the much-prophesied Year of Linux desktops or mainstream gaming. Mac, something that is almost certain to happen. at some point during that period.