Can I copy Steam game files from a Mac onto a PC?
I have a very slow Internet connection at home and cannot download large files there. However, I have a Macbook and fast Internet at school. Is it possible to download a game to my Macbook, then transfer the files to my home PC? Are the files different for Macs and PCs?
I did see this post about general Steam file transfer from PC to PC, but it says nothing about Macs. I wasn't sure if the files are the same or not.
Edit: I just found this thread and it sounds like a direct download isn't possible, but maybe saving a few gigs of data by copying asset files would work.
Best Answer
You can use SteamCMD, Steams command-line client, to download game files, and you can also force it to download files for a different OS. You can find the app ID by looking it up in the Steam Database. That way you'll get all the executable files as well!
Edit: To be clear, I've used this method myself to download a Windows-only game on a Linux machine, and it came with all the .exe files for Windows.
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Answer 2
Unix and Windows are different platforms so there will be different files for PC and Mac. You can attempt to download PC installation files (if Steam allows it) and then copy them over to PC. Have a look at this thread at STEAM forum.
Answer 3
I've got exactly same problem. Solved it by installing windows on my macbook and using steam there. I downloaded games on windows partition and then copied it into home PC
Possible solutions:
a) Install Windows Steam on OS X via Wineskin (wine skin runs .exe like it would be an .app)
b) Install parallels. It runs virtual machine with windows inside os x (you use it like an app. It's fully functional windows system)
c) Install bootcamp with windows [apple fully supports this feature. It's easy. You've got Boot Camp Assistant installed on your os x by default]. After installing bootcamp you will have choice which system to load during computer booting.
Windows runs smoothly in bootcamp. You may even play games on high FPS.
However bootcamp needs it owns partition (windows requires about 15gb). If you only want to download games via steam I would go for parallels. There is free trial and you can probably get free windows cd-key on your university.
Answer 4
As you say in your edit, copying of the raw files will not work 100%. Assuming the assets are the same format across both platforms, that may well work, but otherwise it will not.
You will have more success running Windows Steam in a VM or Bootcamp, and transferring files from that (but obviously this is far more effort).
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