Windows Games on Apple Silicon with Highball
Ascendara 11.6.0 · October 22, 2026
Ascendara now runs Windows games on Apple Silicon Macs through Highball, which is built in and sets itself up the first time you play. It picks the best graphics settings for each game from Highball's open compatibility database, shows how well games run on a Mac across search, download and game pages, and warns before you download games that can't run. This update also adds stopping games from Companion, safer game updates that can be cancelled and restored, a smoother first-time setup on Mac and Linux, and refreshed menus and dropdowns.
Download
| Platform | Version | File | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | 64-bit | Ascendara.Setup.11.6.0.exe | 207 MB |
| macOS | Apple Silicon | Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-arm64.dmg | 252 MB |
| macOS | Intel | Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-x64.dmg | 262 MB |
| Linux | 64-bit | Ascendara-11.6.0.AppImage | 352 MB |
Already have Ascendara? It will offer this update on its own.
All files and checksums
| File | Size | SHA-256 |
|---|---|---|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-arm64.dmg | 252 MB | 42f85d122009ba8b36c02984ca6dd8d5575df7a7562a45751f40a03aba7e5251
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-arm64.dmg.blockmap | 247 KB | fb9153d35de4088896c679ba9df7ea860c19649d982d0d46c8e913df7c7c935d
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-arm64.zip | 251 MB | 10279774d480eea62c167657841b2c59936a2522933a421a432d2b5b57ce05c7
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-arm64.zip.blockmap | 264 KB | 82a0fa665c21549075f980cbdddeba7fc2ed82ab5158d6cdf07def4c30371fcf
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-x64.dmg | 262 MB | 68e265c053a27b8339d35b3b4f26fe519a709312312a3a740e7002b74ef7c75a
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-x64.dmg.blockmap | 253 KB | 7d5ddf159a5d276604f2fd620c94d99a02f1c1d47179dd5bb3305cc888a348fc
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-x64.zip | 260 MB | a70ff6181c37e35ea2ef7de0dcbdff7bfc1b8d786044d7f0d307323904a285a0
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0-mac-x64.zip.blockmap | 273 KB | 22ff16254785ddaa75c5f4b23cdf6dc594c6708de0274417235ac07709902f20
|
| Ascendara-11.6.0.AppImage | 352 MB | 588b39126b4a4da79d6dfe82d847cc3f2074b409d2a74bd09d3ae66b54ff3b75
|
| Ascendara.Setup.11.6.0.exe | 207 MB | 3fe8cd5df5b09d68566222d274e9e53e7ee8b9cad55f2f92988b5f1119b18c45
|
| Ascendara.Setup.11.6.0.exe.blockmap | 219 KB | 980c1dd10203dfa38514db4505accff5430b3798b2d70ab8bf8e183a52529afd
|
What's new
➕ Added
Ascendara Core
- Run Windows games on Apple Silicon Macs with built-in Highball
- Download game compatibility files automatically the first time a Windows game is played, with progress
- Choose the graphics translator (DXMT, D3DMetal, DXVK, VKD3D or WineD3D) globally or per game
- Enable Apple's D3DMetal after reviewing its license
- Use one shared Windows environment or a separate one for each game
- Pick the recommended graphics translator and launch options for each game from Highball's compatibility database
- Show Mac compatibility, known issues and fixes on game and download pages
- Add a Compatibility section to Settings on macOS
- Copy the installed game before updating so cancelling an update restores it
Game Search
- Show Mac compatibility on game cards in search results
- Warn before downloading games that can't run on a Mac
Companion
- Show games running on your desktop in Companion
- Stop running desktop games from Companion
🛠 Improved
Ascendara Core
- Skip the Python setup step in packaged builds on macOS and Linux
- Show Windows game readiness on the final setup screen for macOS and Linux
- Describe the Compatibility settings for the platform you are on
- Stop games, back up saves and use trainers for Windows games on Mac
- Refresh the styling of dropdowns, menus and popovers
- Replace native dropdowns with the app's own dropdown component
- Redesign the info chips on the game page
Companion
- Add games launched from Companion to recent games
🐛 Fixed
Ascendara Core
- Allow launching games in developer mode
- Fix recent games on the home page missing their artwork
- Prevent starting a game twice while its compatibility files are still being prepared
Full list of code changes: 11.5.3 → 11.6.0