Running Windows applications on Linux is made easy with tools like Wine and Proton. However, there is another popular pick that has earned acceptance by many people for general, business, and gaming use cases.
CrossOver is a paid tool that allows people to run Windows applications on Linux and macOS. We call it 'the premium Wine' as it relies heavily on Wine for providing a unique product, with many open source and some proprietary components in the mix.
It is the work of CodeWeavers, who have been the driving force behind CrossOver. Many of the firm's developers also play a major role in Wine and other open source projects.
Gamers who prefer Steam for their gaming needs can rejoice, as CrossOver 25 offers faster startup time for it, making app launches quicker than before. There is now also support for the GOG GALAXY and Epic Games Store clients on macOS.
Next up is the new configuration system for games, allowing gamers to stop worrying about using game-specific CrossTies or manually configuring the game. The new “Auto” mode under the “Advanced Settings” section in Graphics makes CrossOver decide which graphics API translation layer to use between WineD3D, DXMT, DXVK, and D3DMetal (part of Game Porting Toolkit).
Seeing as we are on that topic, people on macOS can now take advantage of the newly added DXMT support, which is meant to be an alternative to the existing D3DMetal implementation, making way for a Metal-based implementation of D3D11.
In their testing, the CrossOver developers found that DXMT worked well with lower-spec Mac devices, while some games also performed better when compared to D3DMetal.
Moving on, support for Windows games has been expanded for both Linux and macOS. Some highlights include:
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While there is a 14-day free trial available, getting CrossOver will cost you $74, which includes the full version, email/phone support, upgrades/bug fixes, and access to the special renewal pricing. It is available for Linux and macOS.
Remember that CrossOver supports Wine development, so if you are purchasing Crossover, you are indirectly supporting the development of Wine project.
In case you are interested in the source, then you can get it from CodeWeavers' source code page. Existing installations will receive this upgrade soon, and those who can't wait can log into their CodeWeavers account and download it from the CrossOver dashboard.
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