Dota 2 on M1 Mac: Can it run on Apple Silicon Processors?

Yes, Dota 2 runs on M1 Macs via Rosetta 2.

[toc] The sequel to the infamous mod, Defense of the Ancients (DotA), Dota 2 pits two teams of five players against each other. Each team has to defend its own base while trying to destroy the enemy’s base.

in spite of being 7 years old, Dota 2 is stronger than ever. In fact, Dota 2 is currently the second most played game in the world, with over 630,000 concurrent players on any given day.

More M1 gaming? Visit our M1 Supported Games list for 100+ Mac games we have tested and confirmed as M1-compatible.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support
	Dota 2	MOBA	Yes		Vulkan	Rosetta

Dota 2 M1 Mac support

Yes, Dota 2 runs on M1 Macs with Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2.

Last Updated: Oct 29, 2021:

What is Rosetta 2? Rosetta 2 is a translation process that enables an M1 Mac with Apple silicon to use apps built for Intel-based Macs.

The game was tested on the following M1 Mac:

• 13-inch MacBook Air (2020): Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU, 8 GB RAM

As you can see below, the game is still exclusively written for Intel-based Macs, but thanks to Rosetta 2, Dota 2 can nonetheless run great on M1 Macs:

Tested versions:

• MacBook Air: MacOS Big Sur version 11.1
• Dota 2: Version 1.0.0 (according to the game’s main screen)

More M1 gaming? Visit our M1 Supported Games list for 100+ Mac games we have tested and confirmed as M1-compatible.

Dota 2 M1 Mac benchmarks

These are the Dota 2 M1 benchmarks we have gathered so far:

As a reminder, this is how we describe the different levels of performance:

• Below 20 FPS: Unplayable: Laggy gameplay, full of stutters and slowdowns.
• 20-30 FPS: Borderline: Can be OK in slow-paced games. Still, not optimal.
• 30-45 FPS: Playable: Acceptable for most (most gaming consoles do this).
• 45-60 FPS: Smooth: Fluid gameplay, with no perceivable stutters.
• 60+ FPS: Very Smooth: For hardcore and professional players, a luxury for most.

We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience for most casual gamers.

Submit & Request M1 results

To take our M1 benchmarks and compatibility tests to the next level, we definitely need your support!

If you’re interested in testing games on your own M1 Mac, you can use this form:

Submit your results

You can also join our Discord to request a game or talk with other M1 Mac users.

Dota 2 Mac requirements

These are the game’s official Mac requirements:

 Requiring only Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics to run, Dota 2 is undeniably an easy game to run on Mac, including older models from 2013 onwards.

Dota 2 on Mac: Verdict

Dota 2 has always been a top-notch Mac port. In fact, it was the first game to ever use the Vulkan API to support Metal.

Similar to League of Legends, Dota 2 is often criticized for having a toxic community. And while that may be somewhat true, Dota 2 has several systems in place to encourage a good atmosphere.

But more importantly, Dota 2 is an excellent MOBA that gamers and reviewers can’t stop praising:

84% Reviews

Dota 2 Mac download

You can download Dota 2 from the following digital stores:

• Steam

And more importantly, if you have your own M1 test results to share, on this game or another, please share them with us using this form.