I spent way to long trying to get Ascension to work on my Macbook Pro with M1 Max. After many days of off and on troubleshooting, I finally got it working. Most of that is due to the WoWSilicon application I eventually found, but there are other settings listed here that help and let you seamlessly use the Ascension Launcher as well.

***This guide is long, not because it is complex (it's easy), but because I wanted to include images and make it as clear as possible so you are successful in setting this up!***

[Overview] This is the full step by step:

• Install Crossover 26 for Mac OS (If not already installed). If you don't already own it, you can use their 14 day trial to set this up and try it first.
• Launch Crossover and create a New Bottle by clicking at the top of your screen Bottle>New Bottle. Choose Windows 10 or 11 is fine.

create a New Bottle by clicking at the top of your screen Bottle>New Bottle. Choose Windows 10 or 11 is fine.

• Download Project Ascension.
• Go back to Crossover, and make sure your bottle is selected. Then click "Install Application into Bottle" on the right column.
  • (Note: You will see another bottle named Ascension for me. That's my original setup. For this tutorial, I created a new bottle to replicate and walk you through this process again, named "Project Ascension". For you, there should be only 1 bottle for Project Ascension)

Go back to Crossover, and make sure your bottle is selected. Then click \"Install Application into Bottle\" on the right column.

• Then click "install an unlisted application" on the top right.

Then click \"install an unlisted application\" on the top right.

• In the Details fields, click Edit in each to select the bottle you created in Crossover, and also select the ascension exe file you just downloaded: ascension-setup-1.0.102
• Click Install. The Ascension install window will pop up. Click Next, and at the end, uncheck the "Run Ascension Launcher". Click Finish.

Click Next, and at the end, uncheck the \"Run Ascension Launcher\". Click Finish.

• Now we see the "Play Ascension" icon in Crossover. Next, click on "Wine Configuration" in the right column.

Next, click on \"Wine Configuration\" in the right column.

• Click on the "Libraries" tab in the Wine Configuration window. Then type in "divxtac" in the "add new override for library" field. Click Add. Then, we will do that same process for 4 more libraries to override. They are:
  • ucrtbase
  • vcruntime140
  • msvcp140
  • concrt140
• Copy/paste them into the library overrides, click "Add".

Add divxtac , ucrtbase , vcruntime140 , msvcp140 , and concrt140 to library overrides

• The 5 library overrides will appear in the list of libraries there, and now we want to select divxtac and click the "Edit" button. Then select "disable". Click Ok. Then select the other 4 libraries, click "Edit", and select "Native then Builtin". Then click Apply and Okay, to close the Wine Configuration window.

Add all 5 libraries. Set divxtac to disabled , and then the other 4 to Native then Builtin

• Next, double click the "Play Ascension" icon in Crossover. Notice it will load a blank white window. Let's fix that. Close the launcher (force quit if you need to, Command>Option>Esc).

Notice it will load a blank white window.

• Next, click "Run Command" at the top right window. Then Click "Browse"

Next, click \"Run Command\" at the top right window. Then Click \"Browse\"

• Here we want to find and select the "Ascension Launcher.exe" file that is within our "Project Ascension" Bottle we installed it on. When you click "Browse", it will open a Finder window already within your bottle. The path is Bottles > Project Ascension > drive_c > Program Files > Ascension Launcher > Ascension Launcher.exe.
  • Click Open.

Bottles > Project Ascension > drive_c > Program Files

Program Files > Ascension Launcher > Ascension Launcher.exe

• Once you click "Open", you will now see the file path in the Command section.

After the last quotation mark, press Space 1 time, then copy/paste --disable-gpu --disable-software-rasterizer --disable-gpu-compositing --in-process-gpu

• Next, we need to add some variables at the very end of the file path, so that we can open the launcher without errors. At the end, you'll see the last quote ". Click space one time after it, then copy/paste this after:

>--disable-gpu --disable-software-rasterizer --disable-gpu-compositing --in-process-gpu

https://preview.redd.it/046yey843kdh1.png?width=1802&format=png&auto=webp&s=4fbc53d86105b07550d447d7aa3734f7701656c0

• Click "Run"

Before you close the \"Run Command\" window, make sure to click \"Save Command as a Launcher\".

• Now the Ascension Launcher will load. Make sure to click "Save Command as a Launcher" so you never have to add those variables again. You will see a new "Ascension Launcher" icon, which will be what you will double click now whenever you want to use the Ascension Launcher.
• Now, in the Launcher, Sign into Ascension & Download the Game. Use the default folder for the game installation, just click "Continue" and download.

Okay great, most of the work is done now really. Final part:

• After you download the game, close the Ascension Launcher.
• Download WoWSilicon. You want the latest version, particularly after v2.5 where Ascension became supported. Here is the link to the current latest version on Github, version 2.5.5: https://github.com/WoWSilicon/WoWSilicon/releases/tag/v2.5.5
  • Download the dmg file. Mount and add it to applications.
• Run WoWSilicon. Select the "WrathSilicon (3.3.5a)" from the dropdown.

Select the \"WrathSilicon (3.3.5a)\" from the dropdown.

• Next, we need to select our Crossover application and Game path files. Click Set/Change for Crossover. It should be under your Home/Username > Applications > Crossover.app . Select it.
• Next, click Set/Change Game Path. We need to select the folder within the bottle that contains the Ascension.exe game file. The path is:
  • Library > Application Support > Crossover > Bottles > Project Ascension > drive_c > Ascension Launcher > resources > ascension-live
    • Note: "Project Ascension" is the bottle name. This may be something else depending on what you named your bottle.
    • ALSO NOTE: If you don't see "Library", it is hidden on Mac by default. Here is how to enable it to be viewed in the finder:
    • Open New Finder. Click Home / Username button. Click View at the top and select "Show View Options".

Open New Finder. Click Home / Username button. Click View at the top and select \"Show View Options\".

Then select \"Show Library Folder\". Done. Close the Window and now in your Home/Username folder, you will see a \"Library\" folder which was hidden before.

• Then select "Show Library Folder". Done. Close the Window and now in your Home/Username folder, you will see a "Library" folder which was hidden before.
• Now, once you have both the Crossover application and the game folder selected in WoWSilicon, we can now patch the game. Easy.

Click \"Patch Crossover\". Once complete, click \"Patch Game\".

• Click "Patch Crossover". Once complete, click "Patch Game".
• Done!!

Patches apply quick and easy. Done!

Last step, IMPORTANT:

• Last step, click the "Options" at the bottom left of the main WoWSilicon screen, and click "Dependencies" on the top right. Click "Install VC++ Runtime 2022.

Last step, click the \"Options\" at the bottom left of the main WoWSilicon screen, and click \"Dependencies\" on the top right. Click \"Install VC++ Runtime 2022.

• Once complete, go to the "Graphics" tab at the top. Here you can modify your graphic settings before you launch. You can play the game maxed out, but you may find better performance at lower resolutions and settings. You can experiment with this.

Click Play!!

Optional: if you got this setup successfully, leave a comment with a screenshot, and if you'd like, your realm/character name/race/class/etc.. :)

Bonus Tip: Now, whenever you need to edit your Addons or Update the game, simply open Crossover and the Ascension Launcher, make your changes, then close out of it and reopen WoWSilicon. You'll notice the game file needs to be re-patched, so click it. It will re-patch in a few seconds, then click Play as normal. Easy.