Will an online game run on my PC, and what if I only have a Mac?

Start with the operating system

Before you look at any hardware numbers, check which operating systems a game supports. This is the one question with a yes-or-no answer, and it saves the most wasted time. A game built for Windows will not run on a Mac just because the Mac is fast, and a phone version of a game is often a separate product with its own account rules.

Linux support varies. Some games run natively on Linux, some run through compatibility layers with mixed results, and some block Linux entirely. Go by what the vendor states.

For Crossout specifically, the offer we work with lists desktop computers running Windows or Linux, and states that Mac is not supported. It's a desktop game: the offer doesn't cover phones, tablets or consoles. If you only have a Mac, this is where the decision ends, and it's better to know that now.

Minimum versus recommended

Most PC games publish two sets of requirements. The minimum is the weakest setup the developer expects the game to start and be playable on, usually at low settings and modest resolution. The recommended setup is what the developer had in mind for the game as intended.

For an online multiplayer game, aim for at least the recommended specification if you can. In a single-player game, a choppy moment just slows you down. In a multiplayer match, it can mean reacting late to everyone else, which is frustrating in a way that settings tweaks can't always fix.

How to find your PC's details on Windows

1. Open Settings and go to System, then About. This shows your processor, installed RAM and the version of Windows.
2. Find your graphics card. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), choose the Performance tab and look for the entry labelled GPU. The model name appears at the top right.
3. Check free storage. Open File Explorer, choose This PC, and look at the free space shown under each drive.
4. Write the three items down. Processor, RAM, graphics card and free space are all you need for a fair comparison.

Menus move around between Windows versions, so if a step looks different on your machine, search the Start menu for "About your PC" or "Task Manager" instead.

Reading the comparison honestly

Graphics cards are the hardest part to compare, because model names don't sort neatly. A higher number isn't always newer or faster across brands and generations. If your card isn't listed and you're unsure where it sits, search for the two model names together with the word "comparison" and look for results from hardware reviewers rather than sellers.

Laptops deserve a second look. Many have two graphics chips: a basic one built into the processor and a separate, faster one. Games sometimes start on the basic chip by default. If performance is poor on a laptop that should cope, check the graphics settings in Windows to make sure the game uses the faster chip.

Memory is more straightforward. If a game asks for 8 GB and you have 8 GB, it will run, but anything else you have open, such as a browser with twenty tabs, competes for the same memory. Close other programs before playing.

Heat, noise and Australian summers

Games make a computer work hard, and hard work makes heat. On a 38-degree afternoon in a room without air-conditioning, a PC or laptop that copes in winter may slow itself down to stay cool. That shows up as stuttering that comes and goes for no obvious reason.

Simple fixes help: give a laptop a hard, flat surface instead of a bed or couch, keep vents clear of dust, and leave space behind a desktop tower. If you play mostly in summer, aim for a little headroom above the recommended specification rather than sitting right at the minimum.

What to do before the first install

1. Restart the computer. It clears whatever has built up since the last restart, and sometimes that alone fixes stuttering.
2. Install pending system updates. Games often expect a current version of the operating system and its graphics components.
3. Update your graphics driver from your card manufacturer's own website, or through Windows Update. Nothing else is needed.
4. Close background programs. Browsers, chat apps and streaming software all take memory and processing time.
5. Plug a laptop in. On battery, many laptops deliberately run slower to save power.

If the game still runs poorly after all that, the honest conclusion is usually that the hardware is below what the game needs, rather than that something is misconfigured.

Storage and updates

The installation size listed on a store page is a starting point. Online games update regularly, and updates need space to download before they install. Leave a comfortable buffer, ideally the install size again, so updates don't fail on a nearly full drive.

Updates also use data. If you're on a capped plan or using a mobile hotspot, check how large updates tend to be before you commit. Our connection page covers this in more detail.

Which settings to lower first

If a game runs but not smoothly, the settings menu is where to look, and some settings cost far more performance than others. Resolution and shadow quality are usually the two biggest, followed by effects such as reflections and ambient shading. Texture quality mostly depends on how much memory your graphics card has, so lowering it helps on older cards and does little on newer ones. Change one setting at a time and play a match in between, rather than dropping everything to low and never finding out what you could have kept.

If your PC falls short

Falling below the minimum doesn't always mean you need a new computer. Lowering the resolution and turning off shadows and effects often helps more than you'd expect. Updating graphics drivers can help too. If the gap is large, though, it's better to choose a lighter game than to spend money on a machine for one title you haven't tried. There are plenty of online games with modest requirements.

What we'd avoid is buying hardware on the strength of a game's promotional material. Play something on what you already have first, and upgrade later if you find a game you'll stick with.

Before you register for Crossout

• You are on a desktop or laptop running Windows or Linux, not a Mac
• You've found the system requirements on the vendor's own site
• Your graphics card, RAM and free storage meet them, preferably the recommended set
• You'll install from the vendor's own site or a store it names

The offer summary we work with doesn't include the game's system requirements, so we won't guess at them here. The vendor's website is the place to read them.