CrossOver 26 Debuts with Wine 11.0 Foundation, Expands Windows App/Gaming Support on Linux and macOS

CodeWeavers has launched CrossOver 26, a significant update to their commercial compatibility layer that enables Windows applications and games to run natively on Linux and macOS. This release marks a foundational shift by migrating to the recently finalized Wine 11.0 codebase, bringing substantial under-the-hood improvements for both platforms.

Core Technical Upgrades

CrossOver 26 integrates several critical components that enhance stability and performance:

• Wine 11.0: The updated Wine core delivers improved API coverage for DirectX 10/11 and better handling of complex applications
• D3DMetal 3.0: Apple's Metal API translation layer sees major optimizations for macOS users
• VKD3D 1.18: Updated Vulkan-based Direct3D 12 implementation boosts graphics performance
• Wine Mono 10.4.1: Enhanced .NET framework compatibility
• DXMT 0.72: DirectX 9 improvements for legacy applications

Gaming Performance Expansion

The macOS gaming experience sees notable gains with CrossOver 26, adding official support for recent AAA titles including:

• God of War Ragnarök
• Borderlands 4
• HELLDIVERS 2
• Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
• Starfield
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Linux users gain improved compatibility for business applications like Microsoft Office suites and proprietary industry software, though gaming performance comparisons against Valve's Proton show differing advantages:

Scenario	Proton Advantage	CrossOver Advantage
Steam Games	Optimized integration	N/A
Non-Steam/Standalone	Limited	Full compatibility
macOS Support	None	Full implementation
Enterprise Apps	Basic	Advanced configuration

Practical Implementation Guidance

For optimal CrossOver 26 performance:

1. Linux Systems: Ensure Vulkan drivers are updated (Mesa 24.0+ recommended) and allocate at least 4GB VRAM for gaming workloads
2. macOS: Metal-compatible GPUs (AMD RDNA2 or Apple Silicon) show 20-30% better performance than older Intel integrated graphics
3. Bottles Configuration: Create separate containers for business applications versus games to isolate dependencies
4. DXVK/VKD3D: Enable DXVK for DirectX 9-11 titles and VKD3D for DX12 games in CrossOver's settings

While Proton remains the dominant solution for Steam-based gaming on Linux, CrossOver 26 provides critical alternatives for macOS users and Linux workstations requiring proprietary Windows applications. The Wine 11.0 foundation brings measurable improvements in API translation efficiency, reducing CPU overhead by approximately 15% in benchmarked scenarios compared to CrossOver 25.

Further technical details are available in CodeWeavers' official release notes.