Does MelonLoader Work with CrossOver on macOS?

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For many Mac gamers and modding fans, running Windows-only tools like MelonLoader can feel out of reach. But thanks to CrossOver, there’s now a way to bring Windows modding capabilities into macOS and enjoy Unity games with custom mods.

This guide breaks down how MelonLoader can be set up through CrossOver, the common issues you may run into, and the proven fixes shared by the modding community.

What You Need to Know: MelonLoader, CrossOver, and macOS

Before diving into setup, let’s look at how each part fits together:

  • MelonLoader – A universal mod loader built for Unity engine games. It injects itself at launch and loads mods (often called “melons”) from a special folder. Since it was designed for Windows, extra work is required for Mac.
  • CrossOver – A compatibility layer created by CodeWeavers and based on the Wine project. It translates Windows API calls into macOS equivalents so Windows apps and games can run on a Mac—without installing Windows through Boot Camp or a full virtual machine.
  • macOS – Apple’s operating system, which cannot natively run .exe files or Windows DLLs.

The challenge is getting a Windows-specific mod loader (MelonLoader) to run smoothly inside CrossOver’s translated environment.

Why It’s Not Straightforward

The short answer to “Does MelonLoader work with CrossOver on macOS?” is yes—but not out of the box.

Here are the main hurdles:

  1. Missing Dependencies
    MelonLoader requires Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables (2015–2019) and the correct .NET Desktop Runtime (commonly .NET 6.0 for Il2Cpp Unity games). These don’t come with macOS and need to be added inside CrossOver.
  2. The version.dll Conflict
    By default, MelonLoader injects using a file called version.dll. On macOS through CrossOver, this method often fails, leading to instant crashes.
  3. Fragile Stability
    Even when working, updates to macOS, CrossOver, or the game itself can cause sudden breakages. Crashes, memory leaks, and inconsistent behavior are not uncommon.

How to Install MelonLoader on macOS with CrossOver

Here’s a step-by-step setup:

1. Install CrossOver and Your Game

  • Download and install CrossOver.
  • Create a new bottle just for your game (this keeps mods and dependencies contained).

2. Add Dependencies

  • With the bottle selected, choose Install an unlisted application.
  • Add:
    • Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2019 Redistributable
    • The right .NET Desktop Runtime (e.g., .NET 6.0).

3. Install MelonLoader

  • Grab the latest MelonLoader installer from its official site or GitHub.
  • Use CrossOver’s Run Command to launch the installer in your game’s bottle.
  • Point it to your game’s .exe file inside the bottle (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\...).

4. Fix the version.dll Error

This is the key step:

  1. Inside your game’s install folder (open bottle → C Drive in Finder), rename version.dll → winhttp.dll.
  2. Open Wine Configuration for the bottle.
  3. Under Libraries:
    • Add winhttp.
    • Set it to Native, then Builtin.
  4. Save and close.

Troubleshooting

  • If the game won’t launch, check the MelonLoader logs (MelonLoader/Logs inside the game folder).
  • For game-specific fixes, the best resources are:

Both communities regularly share updated fixes and tweaks.

Final Thoughts

So, does MelonLoader work with CrossOver on macOS? Yes—but it takes effort. While it isn’t officially supported, the modding community has proven it’s possible with the right dependencies and the version.dll workaround.

For Mac gamers willing to troubleshoot, the reward is unlocking a whole new world of mods for Unity games—without needing to install Windows at all.

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