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Baldur's Gate 3 on Apple Silicon
#1
Has anyone been able to launch the ARM64 version of the game?

I'm given the option of X86/Rosetta or ARM64 when launching the game. ARM64 immediately quits if launched through GoG Galaxy (which is a terrible, buggy piece of crap - it only quits by force quit); this is a known problem as ARM64 code is not compatible with GoG's launcher & backend services.

The ARM64 version of the game also immediately quits if I try and launch it directly from the applications folder. 

X86/Rosetta works as expected, but runs very hot on my M4 Pro mini (Sequoia 15.1.1).

I'm guessing Steam has the same problem as GoG Galaxy, and as it's not possible to purchase the game directly from Larian, I'm not sure how to work around this.
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#2
The ARM64 version works with Steam.
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#3
(11-30-2024, 09:15 AM)galad Wrote: The ARM64 version works with Steam.

Good to know, I'll try that. So pleased I wasted my money with the GoG purchase!
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#4
Try emailing GOG and see what they say?
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#5
(11-30-2024, 04:19 PM)Thain Esh Kelch Wrote: Try emailing GOG and see what they say?

Yeah I'll do that. I'd ask for a refund, but I bought the game over a year ago (my base M1 mini was struggling with it, so I thought I'd wait until I had a good enough system to play it on).

Anyway. I've purchased the Steam version and am waiting patiently while the 140 Gb installer squeezes its way down my 50 Mb connection. (Country living! I'm probably using up all the bandwidth in the county).

Update: The Steam version is indeed ARM64. Performance is acceptable.
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#6
Glad I saw this thread. I bought the GOG version 2 days ago, not actually intending to play it anytime soon. But after seeing this thread I ran a quick test. Sure enough, the ARM version crashed! The launcher asks me which version to use, I click ARM, and then it exits. The third time I tried it I actually got a Larian crash reporter window which I submitted to Larian.

I will check Larian's forums later to see if anyone else is complaining about it. Version on the app is 4.1.1.6072089

So I may have to return the GOG version, since (as of a 3.5 months) the Steam version works better. I find this situation a little bizarre.

UPDATE: the Intel version also does not launch. This time I got both Larian and Apple crash report dialogs. This was a fresh install but I will try to reinstall from scratch tonight. After that I will get my money back.
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#7
Update: I can run the Intel version, but only if I run Get Info on the application and select: "Open with Rosetta". Then it launches.

It's funny that to install BG3 GOG made me install GOG Galaxy. But their FAQ has a warning that if BG3 doesn't launch from Galaxy, try launching it from the desktop instead (which is what I was doing.) Perhaps I should have tried running it from Galaxy? But GOG Galaxy still doesn't exit when it is quit so I have to force-quit it, and that problem has been going on for years.

I love the idea of GOG more than I love the reality of it.
Gave beans:   
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#8
I used GOG to buy Divinity Original Sin 2 last week. Took me like 2 hours to get the right version of GOG installed, not have it crash every time it started up, and then I had to find an external hard drive to install it on because it kept telling me my internal hard drive had no space (200gb available, 20gb install) - so had to install to an external hard drive and then drag across to copy to my internal drive after the fact. First time I've realized used GOG and it was a complete nightmare.

To your original point though, BG3 ran great for me through Steam on M4 Pro MBP. Bought it in Jan and been playing it a lot - fantastic game.
Gave beans:   
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#9
> To your original point though, BG3 ran great for me through Steam on M4 Pro MBP.

Thanks for that.

I have mixed feelings about Steam, especially about their ability to yank access to my games library whenever they stop supporting a particular OS or version. But that's a "one day" problem. A more basic requirement is that I can play the games I pay for NOW.

I may or may not give GOG tech support a chance.
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#10
update: BG3 does run if I launch it from GOG Galaxy, but I do not get an option to select ARM vs x86 build, so I believe it is forcing me to the x86 build. This might explain why there aren't a lot of complaints about the GOG ARM build... Or maybe it really is working for most people.

Unlike most customers I'm not in a hurry to start playing it so I contacted GOG Support, and will give them a chance to collect details.
Gave beans:   
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#11
You should be able to tell from the Activity Monitor when it's running whether it's running ARM vs. x86, right? I unfortunately un-installed BG3 after completing it on Steam so I can't easily check what it shows there.
Gave beans:   
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#12
(03-24-2025, 05:36 PM)ozzy Wrote: You should be able to tell from the Activity Monitor when it's running whether it's running ARM vs. x86, right? I unfortunately un-installed BG3 after completing it on Steam so I can't easily check what it shows there.

Great idea! 

When I run it from GOG Galaxy it runs the native Apple Silicon version! You don't even have the option to run the x86 build.
Meanwhile the x86 build works from the desktop but only if you manually select "Run under Rosetta" in MacOS.

What a mess. But I think this explains why there aren't more complaints about it. People using GOG Galaxy have no problem.

I'll update my support ticket with them. I have no hopes for it now -- they already tried to close it once when they read that the Intel build was working for me. "Glad you got it working! Enjoy the game!" But I wouldn't feel right without telling them. Maybe they'll add a few lines to their FAQ. Meanwhile I have to decide if I want my game to be hostage to Steam's launcher or GOG's launcher. :-)
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#13
Good to know it at least works that way. But yeah, my experience with GOG Galaxy has not been positive thus far!
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#14
(03-24-2025, 11:33 AM)Matt Diamond Wrote: But GOG Galaxy still doesn't exit when it is quit so I have to force-quit it, and that problem has been going on for years.

I love the idea of GOG more than I love the reality of it.

GOG Galaxy is the most appalling POS. People - including me! - have been reporting that 'force quit only' bug for over a year now (as you say), and it's still not fixed. 

Also, the only way I'm able to update that app is through a fresh install. Automated updates have never worked for me.
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