Featherweight Games officially supports macOS for Chained Beasts. The 1–4 player co-op gladiator roguelike includes native Mac platform support alongside Windows on Steam, with the full game launching on October 15, 2026. A free playable demo featuring Mac compatibility is also available to test ahead of launch.
macOS System Requirements
The official Steam store page outlines the hardware and operating system specifications required to run Chained Beasts on Mac devices.
| Requirement | Minimum Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating System | macOS 11 |
| Processor | Apple M1 / Intel Core i7-6920HQ |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Apple M1 / AMD Radeon Pro 450 |
| Additional Notes | At least 1 gamepad is required for same-screen co-op |
The recommended specifications for macOS have not been published by the developer at this time.
Playable Demo and New Features
Featherweight Games added macOS support during its major demo overhaul ahead of Steam Next Fest. Players on Mac can download and play the free demo directly through Steam.
According to official developer update announcements, recent demo versions introduced several key mechanics and content additions:
- New Playable Beasts: The Ibex and Rhino joined the arena roster alongside an overhaul of existing beasts, introducing an XP progression system to unlock variants.
- Combat Mechanics: Added brutal execution moves for downed enemies, long-range combat using bows, and dismemberment mechanics that allow severed limbs to be thrown as weapons.
- New Arena Foes: Introduced archers firing from range, wrestlers that pin gladiators to the ground until a teammate helps, and defensive swordsmen who strike while blocking with shields.
- Difficulty Modes: Four difficulty settings were introduced: Pleb, Legionnaire, Centurion, and Hades.
- Interactive Features: Added Twitch integration, allowing livestream chat to vote on affliction potions consumed between rounds.
Multiplayer and Crossplay Functionality
Chained Beasts focuses heavily on cooperative arena play, chaining up to four gladiators together. Features listed on the Steam store page include:
- Single-player, Online Co-op, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op
- Cross-Platform Multiplayer
- Remote Play Together and Steam Cloud
- Steam Achievements and Family Sharing
Early Steam community discussions reported an issue where Windows and Mac players encountered menu returns when attempting to join each other's lobbies, which community replies indicated was resolved after asking in the Discord.
Controller and Input Requirements
Featherweight Games lists the game as "Gamepad Recommended" on Steam, featuring full controller support. Compatible inputs explicitly listed by the developer include:
- Xbox Controllers
- PlayStation Controllers (DualShock and DualSense support)
For local couch co-op, the developer notes that at least one gamepad is mandatory to enable same-screen play.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Chained Beasts release on Mac?
Chained Beasts is scheduled to release on October 15, 2026, on Steam for both macOS and Windows PC.
Can Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs run the game?
Yes. Featherweight Games explicitly lists the Apple M1 processor and graphics in the official minimum system requirements on macOS 11 or later.
Can Mac players play co-op with Windows PC players?
Yes. The game supports cross-platform multiplayer. A brief lobby connection bug between Mac and Windows players during demo testing was resolved by the development team.
