Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2

Developers
	Valve Corporation
Publishers
2005-present	Valve Corporation
Engines
	Source
Release dates
macOS	May 26, 2010
Reception
Metacritic	96
IGDB	91
Taxonomy
Series	Half-Life
Resources
	Codeweavers
	WineHQ

macOS Compatibility

Method	Rating	Notes
Native	Perfect	Compiled the Source Engine Leak, can be run with an EP1/2 installation with -game hl2 https://github.com/nillerusr/source-engine
Rosetta 2	Unknown
Compatibility layer
CrossOver	Runs	Installed via Steam on CrossOver 21, extreme fps drops during shootouts and explosions.
Wine	Perfect	Tested on M1 max with settings set to high and resolution set to 2056x1329. Runs at over 120 fps with no vertical sync. Slight stuttering in load areas.
Virtualization
Parallels	Perfect	Playable.

Native ARM build from leaked source

These instructions are based on guides written by James Hug. This method builds a native port for older Source engine games, such as Half-Life 2, its episodes, and Portal. TF2 AND LATER SOURCE GAMES WON'T WORK!!

Enter these commands into Terminal, Homebrew and Xcode Command Line Tools are required:

1. Install prerequisites from Homebrew and clone Repository (added the jpeg-turbo dependency from instructions):

brew install sdl2 freetype2 fontconfig pkg-config opus libpng libedit python3 jpeg jpeg-turbo && brew cleanup
git clone --recursive https://github.com/nillerusr/source-engine && cd source-engine

2. Set pkg path:

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/jpeg/lib/pkgconfig"

3. Configure, build and install the game into your Documents Folder:

python3 waf configure -T release --64bits --prefix='' --build-games=[game folder] && python3 waf build && python3 waf install --destdir='~/Documents/Build/[game folder]'

Valid Game Folder Names:

• cstrike (Counter-Strike Source)
• episodic (Half-Life 2: Episode 1/2)
• hl1 (Half-Life: Source)
• hl2
• portal
• dod (Day of Defeat: Source)
• hl2mp (Half-Life 2: Deathmatch)

4. Open your Half-Life 2 Folder, and your game's subfolder. (Portal and/or Day of Defeat Source, if you're installing those games), Right-Click > "Browse local files". DO NOT MESS WITH THE HL2 FOLDER UNLESS YOU'RE ACTUALLY INSTALLING HL2!)

5. Modify Installation Files:

• Delete the root and game folder "bin" directories and "hl2_osx" executable
  • Move your "bin", "[game folder]/bin" folders and "hl2_launcher" executable to your Half-Life 2 folder,
  • and rename "hl2_launcher" to "hl2_osx"

Congratulations! You (hopefully) successfully built a working Native Source Port!

Suggested settings for the native version

Tested on Macbook Pro 16 2021 16 GB

1. Add launch parameters (Steam): -noborder -windowed -refresh 120 -autoexec

This starts the game in the windowed borderless mode and limits FPS to 120. Windowed borderless is needed to ignore the Macbook's notch (render the game under it). Otherwise the interface elements and aim are shifted incorrectly, potentially making the game less playable. Optionally, if you have EP2 installed and want to launch EP1 or base HL2 (or any other Half-Life 2 folder game), you can launch it by appending -game [game subfolder name]. If you'd like to play EP2 again, simply remove the -game parameter. Make sure NOT to share game "bin" folders or they WILL crash upon loading!

2. Add settings to autoexec.cfg

In /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Half-Life 2/hl2/cfg/autoexec.cfg, add this:

//set the video mode to your display resolution (i.e. 1728x1117 - Default, 2056x1329 - More Space). Uncomment only the resolution you are using.
mat_setvideomode 1728 1117 1
//mat_setvideomode 2056 1329 1
// Forces the engine to load audio asynchronously. Removes audio micro-stuttering in some cases.
snd_async_fullyasync 1
snd_async_minsize 0
snd_noextraupdate 1
// Improve texture quality
mat_picmip -1 
mat_antialias 4
mat_forceaniso 8
//BELOW: Enables software AA at maximum quality. Software AA works alongside normal AA, and helps to remove further
//aliasing, such as power lines. Little to no frame loss with this enabled.
mat_software_aa_quality 8
mat_software_aa_strength 2
mat_software_aa_strength_vgui 2
mat_software_aa_blur_one_pixel_lines 0.5
mat_software_aa_edge_threshold .8
// Enables small motion blur with forward movement, feel free to remove
mat_motion_blur_forward_enabled 1
// Key binding to manually to enable some of the settings
bind "/" "r_newflashlight 0; r_lod 0; r_maxdlights 128; r_shadowmaxrendered 1024; echo 'Graphics commands have been applied.'"

This will make sure that the game will run at max settings. FPS will still be 120 almost everywhere except the places in the game that were buggy on the other platforms as well.

r_newflashlight 0 - disables HL2 flashlight that is not working well (causes various artefacts when interacting with shadows). With this setting the game will use the still functional HL1 implementation of flashlight.

r_lod 0 - always fully load all nearby objects (buildings, cars, etc.). Looks better as the objects will not switch their appearance suddenly when you approach them. There is little to none performance penalty on Mac with its SSD.

r_maxdlights 128; r_shadowmaxrendered 1024; - could potentially improve the look of the game, feel free to remove if you see no difference.

Binding these r_* settings command to / key is necessary, because the game will reset these settings while in the Main Menu.

You need to tap / key when you already loaded the save game. The settings then will stay enabled for the whole session (even if re-loading the saves), until you exit the game

Known bugs

- When playing with Airpods, the audio starts stuttering randomly. Fix: Mute and unmute the audio on the Macbook.

- Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and Day of Defeat: Source show a black screen has no HUD on macOS Sonoma