u/AnOldBrownie007

Note: This all starts and stops with Crossover 26 (an emulation layer to run Windows games on the Mac)...but there are other Virtual environments you might use instead. I love me some Crossover though.

IMPORTANT NOTE:   INSTALL EVERYTHING ON AN EXTERNAL SSD.  

My two folders (SteamLibrary + MO2 instance) on my external drive total 150 GBs…and I haven’t installed a lot. (Over 140 mods though)

So..if the SSD is new and nothing else is on it...There will be only two folders

1. STEAMLIBRARY = Where your Crossover bottle installed your game

2. MO2 = Where, after you installed MO2 you created an instance for your MODS.

CREATE A SEPARATE FOLDER on that SSD labeled MO2…that will be the folder where ALL your modding stuff goes.   If you’re unfamiliar with MO2 and instances…look up this guys videos…  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECZFLELSPOc

Needed to add a link to another video that discusses getting Skyrim up and running using the Wrye Bash launcher. If it weren't for that video I'd have never gotten my feet wet with modding Skyrim on the Mac. The important thing to take from that video is the setting up of the Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) which is probably what you'll want to do even before you install Mod Organizer 2. There are 5 files in the archive (ignore the SRC folder)that, once uncompressed...you paste directly into your Skyrim directory ...and choose MERGE. One of those files is a Data folder. The next step...you open that Data folder and you'll find a SCRIPTS folder. Select the entire content of that folder... go to the Data folder in your Skyrim directory...You'll find a Scripts folder there... you're going to PASTE into that scripts folder and choose REPLACE.

Watch the Wrye Bash video. It covers it.

To successfully set up Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) in a CrossOver bottle, install both Steam and the game (e.g., Skyrim) in the same bottle. Install MO2 into that same bottle, and configure the launch environment variables to bypass graphical crashes in the built-in browser. 

Step 1: Prepare the Bottle

Create the Bottle: In CrossOver, create a new Windows 10 or 11 64-bit bottle.

Enable Tweaks: Select your bottle, go to Settings (or the Bottle's control panel), and ensure DXVK/DXMT and MSync (or ESync) are enabled. 

Install Game and Steam: Use the CrossOver installer to install Steam into this bottle. Log in, install your game (e.g., Skyrim SE or Fallout 4), and launch the game at least once so it can generate initial INI files and register its directory structure. 

Step 2: Install Mod Organizer 2

Download MO2: Download the Mod Organizer 2 GitHub Releases installer (v2.2.2.1 up to v2.5.2+ are known to work well).

Run Installer in CrossOver: Click Install a Windows Application > Select an Installer in CrossOver and point it to the MO2 installer.

Install Location: When prompted, install MO2 to the bottle's virtual C:\ drive or the default path it chooses.

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables & Launch

Because MO2's built-in browser panels rely on Chromium, it is highly likely to crash on launch due to hardware acceleration conflicts under Wine.

Run With Options: Click Run Command from your bottle’s menu.

Add Chromium Flags: Before running ModOrganizer.exe, paste the following exact string into the Environment Variables or Command Line Options field:QTWEBENGINE_CHROMIUM_FLAGS="--disable-gpu"

Browse: Click Browse... and navigate to the ModOrganizer.exe file installed in your bottle (usually under drive_c/Modding/MO2/ModOrganizer.exe).

Save Command: Click Save Command so you can easily launch it with the required flags in the future. 

Step 4: Initial MO2 Configuration

Set the Instance: When MO2 launches, select Create a Global Instance and point it to your installed game's executable path in the bottle. 

Connect to Nexus: Go to the MO2 settings (the wrench and screwdriver icon), navigate to the Nexus tab, and click Connect to Nexus. This will open your native Mac browser to authorize MO2.

Handle NXM Links: When prompted by MO2 to associate with NXM links (to use the "Download with Mod Manager" feature on Nexus), click Yes.

Important Modding Notes for Mac

Script Extenders: If your modded setup relies on a script extender (like SKSE or F4SE), you must launch the script extender .exe instead of the base game .exe inside MO2's executables drop-down menu.

File Paths: If MO2 cannot find your game data directory, manually map it by editing the directory paths in MO2 settings.

Avoid Windows-Only Engines: Complex ENBs or deep native code injection mods (like certain .dll plugins) compiled solely for Windows may not work correctly, so test your mod list incrementally.

Getting Pandora Behavior Engine Plus Up and Running for Animations

Step 1: Install Prerequisites and Pandora

Install .NET: Download the .NET 8.0 Desktop Runtime (Windows x64) directly from the .NET Downloads page. Run this installer file using CrossOver's "Install a Windows Application" feature

and target your existing MO2/Skyrim bottle.

Install Pandora: Download the latest Pandora Behavior Engine zip file from GitHub. Install it as a regular mod through MO2 (by using the Install a new mod from an archive button) and ensure

the mod is checked in the left-hand pane.

Step 2: Create a Dedicated Output Mod

Because CrossOver handles virtual file paths differently, you should avoid using Pandora’s automatic "Create files in mod instead of overwrite" setting in MO2. [1]

Right-click an empty space in MO2's left pane and select All Mods > Create empty mod.

Name it something like Pandora Output and ensure it is checked.

Right-click your new Pandora Output mod and select Open in Explorer.

Copy the full folder path (found in the top address bar of the explorer window) to your clipboard.

Step 3: Configure the Pandora Executable in MO2

In MO2, click the Executables icon (the gears icon at the top toolbar).

Click the + (Add) button and choose Add from file....

Navigate to where Pandora was installed in your MO2/CrossOver virtual drive and select Pandora Behavior Engine Plus.exe.

In the settings panel on the right, locate the Arguments box and type: -o "PASTE_YOUR_PATH_HERE" (Replace PASTE_YOUR_PATH_HERE with the absolute path you copied in Step 2, keeping the quotation

marks).

Click Apply and then OK. 

Step 4: Run the Engine

Select Pandora Behavior Engine Plus from the executable dropdown menu in MO2 and click Run.

Check the animation patches you wish to generate in the Pandora UI and click Launch.

Because the output was directed to your dedicated mod folder, it will neatly compile all necessary behavior files without corrupting your Overwrite folder.

Both of these steps weren't compiled by me. I just make the videos and test the mods in my bottle.

My gameplay video.

Note: This all starts and stops with Crossover 26...but there are other Virtual environments you might use instead. I love me some Crossover though.

IMPORTANT NOTE:   INSTALL EVERYTHING ON AN EXTERNAL SSD.  My two folders (SteamLibrary + MO2 instance) on my external drive total 150 GBs…and I haven’t installed a lot. (Over 140 mods though)

So..if the SSD is new and nothing else is on it...There will be only two folders

1. STEAMLIBRARY = Where your Crossover bottle installed your game

2. MO2 = Where, after you installed MO2 you created an instance for your MODS.

CREATE A SEPARATE FOLDER on that SSD labeled MO2…that will be the folder where ALL your modding stuff goes.   If you’re unfamiliar with MO2 and instances…look up this guys videos…  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECZFLELSPOc

Needed to add a link to another video that discusses getting Skyrim up and running using the Wrye Bash launcher. If it weren't for that video I'd have never gotten my feet wet with modding Skyrim on the Mac. The important thing to take from that video is the setting up of the Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) which is probably what you'll want to do even before you install Mod Organizer 2. There are 5 files in the archive (ignore the SRC folder)that, once uncompressed...you paste directly into your Skyrim directory ...and choose MERGE. One of those files is a Data folder. The next step...you open that Data folder and you'll find a SCRIPTS folder. Select the entire content of that folder... go to the Data folder in your Skyrim directory...You'll find a Scripts folder there... you're going to PASTE into that scripts folder and choose REPLACE.

Watch the Wrye Bash video. It covers it.

To successfully set up Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) in a CrossOver bottle, install both Steam and the game (e.g., Skyrim) in the same bottle. Install MO2 into that same bottle, and configure the launch environment variables to bypass graphical crashes in the built-in browser. 

Step 1: Prepare the Bottle

Create the Bottle: In CrossOver, create a new Windows 10 or 11 64-bit bottle.

Enable Tweaks: Select your bottle, go to Settings (or the Bottle's control panel), and ensure DXVK/DXMT and MSync (or ESync) are enabled. 

Install Game and Steam: Use the CrossOver installer to install Steam into this bottle. Log in, install your game (e.g., Skyrim SE or Fallout 4), and launch the game at least once so it can generate initial INI files and register its directory structure. 

Step 2: Install Mod Organizer 2

Download MO2: Download the Mod Organizer 2 GitHub Releases installer (v2.2.2.1 up to v2.5.2+ are known to work well).

Run Installer in CrossOver: Click Install a Windows Application > Select an Installer in CrossOver and point it to the MO2 installer.

Install Location: When prompted, install MO2 to the bottle's virtual C:\ drive or the default path it chooses.

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables & Launch

Because MO2's built-in browser panels rely on Chromium, it is highly likely to crash on launch due to hardware acceleration conflicts under Wine.

Run With Options: Click Run Command from your bottle’s menu.

Add Chromium Flags: Before running ModOrganizer.exe, paste the following exact string into the Environment Variables or Command Line Options field:QTWEBENGINE_CHROMIUM_FLAGS="--disable-gpu"

Browse: Click Browse... and navigate to the ModOrganizer.exe file installed in your bottle (usually under drive_c/Modding/MO2/ModOrganizer.exe).

Save Command: Click Save Command so you can easily launch it with the required flags in the future. 

Step 4: Initial MO2 Configuration

Set the Instance: When MO2 launches, select Create a Global Instance and point it to your installed game's executable path in the bottle. 

Connect to Nexus: Go to the MO2 settings (the wrench and screwdriver icon), navigate to the Nexus tab, and click Connect to Nexus. This will open your native Mac browser to authorize MO2.

Handle NXM Links: When prompted by MO2 to associate with NXM links (to use the "Download with Mod Manager" feature on Nexus), click Yes.

Important Modding Notes for Mac

Script Extenders: If your modded setup relies on a script extender (like SKSE or F4SE), you must launch the script extender .exe instead of the base game .exe inside MO2's executables drop-down menu.

File Paths: If MO2 cannot find your game data directory, manually map it by editing the directory paths in MO2 settings.

Avoid Windows-Only Engines: Complex ENBs or deep native code injection mods (like certain .dll plugins) compiled solely for Windows may not work correctly, so test your mod list incrementally.

Getting Pandora Behavior Engine Plus Up and Running for Animations

Step 1: Install Prerequisites and Pandora

Install .NET: Download the .NET 8.0 Desktop Runtime (Windows x64) directly from the .NET Downloads page. Run this installer file using CrossOver's "Install a Windows Application" feature

and target your existing MO2/Skyrim bottle.

Install Pandora: Download the latest Pandora Behavior Engine zip file from GitHub. Install it as a regular mod through MO2 (by using the Install a new mod from an archive button) and ensure

the mod is checked in the left-hand pane.

Step 2: Create a Dedicated Output Mod

Because CrossOver handles virtual file paths differently, you should avoid using Pandora’s automatic "Create files in mod instead of overwrite" setting in MO2. [1]

Right-click an empty space in MO2's left pane and select All Mods > Create empty mod.

Name it something like Pandora Output and ensure it is checked.

Right-click your new Pandora Output mod and select Open in Explorer.

Copy the full folder path (found in the top address bar of the explorer window) to your clipboard.

Step 3: Configure the Pandora Executable in MO2

In MO2, click the Executables icon (the gears icon at the top toolbar).

Click the + (Add) button and choose Add from file....

Navigate to where Pandora was installed in your MO2/CrossOver virtual drive and select Pandora Behavior Engine Plus.exe.

In the settings panel on the right, locate the Arguments box and type: -o "PASTE_YOUR_PATH_HERE" (Replace PASTE_YOUR_PATH_HERE with the absolute path you copied in Step 2, keeping the quotation

marks).

Click Apply and then OK. 

Step 4: Run the Engine

Select Pandora Behavior Engine Plus from the executable dropdown menu in MO2 and click Run.

Check the animation patches you wish to generate in the Pandora UI and click Launch.

Because the output was directed to your dedicated mod folder, it will neatly compile all necessary behavior files without corrupting your Overwrite folder.

Both of these steps weren't compiled by me. I just make the videos and test the mods in my bottle. BUT....It worked.

OK...need help with this one.

ENB Shaders

This is the only thing that's crashing my game. I've installed Rudy ENB...but after it loads the shaders (which takes about 5 minutes) the game crashes. Here are the steps though.

Install the ENB Binaries

1. Go to ENB Dev and download the latest ENBSeries version for Skyrim Special Edition or Skyrim LE, depending on your game.
2. Extract the downloaded zip file and navigate into the WrapperVersion folder.
3. Copy d3d11.dll and d3dcompiler_47.dll.
4. Paste these files into your main Skyrim directory inside the CrossOver bottle (usually found at drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim Special Edition/). [1, 2, 3]

Install the ENB Preset

1. Download your chosen ENB preset (e.g., from Nexus Mods).
2. Open the downloaded preset's folder and extract its contents (typically .ini files, an enbseries folder, and potentially other .dll or .fx files).
3. Drag and drop these files directly into your main Skyrim folder, overwriting any files when prompted.

Step 4: Configure CrossOver Wine Libraries

For modern CrossOver versions, ENBs will not load unless you force the bottle to use the specific d3d11.dll you just pasted over. [1]

1. Select your Skyrim/Steam bottle in CrossOver and click Wine Configuration (or Control Panel > Wine Configuration) in the right-hand panel.
2. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
3. In the "New override for library" field, type exactly d3d11 and click Add.
4. It will now appear in the list below; select it and click Edit (or ensure it reads (native, builtin)).
5. Click Apply, then OK, and completely restart CrossOver. [1, 2]

Launch Skyrim; you should see the "ENBSeries" compiling shaders text in the top-left corner during the load screen. The default hotkey to open the ENB in-game menu to tweak settings is SHIFT + ENTER

Think I'm going to have to delete the New override entry.

DXVK with Esync works with the ENB enabled. Unfortunately it cuts my FPS in half.

Now I can look forward to grabbing a Pro M5 Pro in about 18 months. Should give me a consistent 60fps at 1080p.

Still...if you aren't running an ENB, anything above a Pro M3 Pro should be fine running this.

My running Modlist

So I've gone down the whole Skyrim on Mac rabbit hole...and it's been great so far...except for ANIMATION FRAMEWORKS.

I've installed over 160 mods...no problem. Wrye Bash is perfect for launching mods. But if I'm trying to load an external animation framework...which launches as an .EXE file...I need to create a mod...with PANDORA animation output as one of the mods in the Wrye Bash mod list.

From what I can tell, the easiest way to do this is to create a mod using MO2...but MO2 closes/crashes immediately. DXVK, DMVT,D3D...Msnc or Esync...every combination crashes. I've installed .Net Runtime 7 and DirextX for Modern games into the bottle...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Loving Skyrim on my Macbook otherwise.

So I've gone down the whole Skyrim on Mac rabbit hole...and it's been great so far...except for ANIMATION FRAMEWORKS.

I've installed over 160 mods...no problem. Wrye Bash is perfect for launching mods. But if I'm trying to load an external animation framework...which launches as an .EXE file...I need to create a mod...with PANDORA animation output as one of the mods in the Wrye Bash mod list.

From what I can tell, the easiest way to do this is to create a mod using MO2...but MO2 closes/crashes immediately. DXVK, DMVT,D3D...Msnc or Esync...every combination crashes. I've installed .Net Runtime 7 and DirextX for Modern games into the bottle...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Loving Skyrim on my Macbook otherwise.

• M3 Pro M3 Macbook 18c GPU MacOS Sequoia 15.7.5 Crossover 26.1 Good game between Manchester United and my Fulham

• 21.5" Uperfect Touchscreen
• 16" M3 Pro MB Pro
• Mosiso Macbook Case
• ProtoArc Foldable Keyboard
• Crucial 1TB P3 SSD
• Wavelink 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure
• Logitech M550 mouse
• Xbox Wireless Controller

Most of my games are installed on the SSD (obviously) with no detriment to gaming performance.

Thought I'd share.

I use 1001 Record for my game recording. (Apple Store)

OBS for the occasional game stream

Davinci Resolve for light editing.

Mac OS Sequoia 15.7.5
Crossover 26.1
Running game using DXMT (upgraded) and Esync
Game runs very smooth. Not as good as my desktop gaming computer, but completely enjoyable. Consistent 37 fps...but feels like 40. I don't want to lower the graphic setting.

Choosing to install this game was a big decision because it's 108 gb for the install, and if I'm not installing locally I may as well use Parsec to stream from my PC...but the game is so fun. Kinda addictive.

Now that it runs...I HIGHLY recommend getting this on Steam. I've played up to level 3 so far...with no crashes once I changed to Esync.

So...I tried running Middle Earth Shadow of War....

Updated the DXMT to version 0.80...Updated Crossover to 26.1...running under Sequoia 15.7.5

Pro M3 Macbook Pro with 18 GPU cores

The first time after updating the DXMT...I ran the benchmark and it ran through fine. No crashing. So I thought great...let me get my external monitor...hook it up... try to play the game.

I tried running the Shadow of War campaign from the beginning....gets to the siege...CRASH. I do it again after changing some settings.. CRASH at the same point.

Then I decide...let me run the benchmark again. Go through about 20 times with different settings...crashes at the same spot EVERY TIME. This is after my very first benchmark....before I'd changed any graphic settings... ran fine and gave me a benchmark result.

Help please. I'm actually able to play through the beginning portion...before the SIEGE...and the game runs fine. Get to that part and it's crashing every time.

Should I upgrade to Tahoe and try it? Is there something in Sequoia that might be causing the crashes at a specific point?