AOE2:DE on Mac M1+ macOS Monterey compatible using Porting Kit (free)

Hey all,

I recently ran into this reddit post (Old Reddit Post) regarding getting aoe2de to run on new Mac M1s. This worked 90% of the way there for me on my Macbook Pro M1 2021 with macOS Monterey, but I still couldn't play multiplay due to the most annoying "out of sync" memory error ever. Furthermore, I didn't want to pay for Crossroads. So I wanted to add some patches to the post above with instructions on how to get this working on most recent machines for free:

1. Install Porting Kit (Porting Kit URL)

2. Lookup AOE2:DE in the library

3. Download and install AOE2:DE

4. Fetch the alternative ucrtbase.dll from the official Microsoft site:

  1. Open a terminal on Mac

  2. Install Homebrew: Homebrew Install Link

  3. Install xcode: xcode-select --install

  4. Install cabextract: brew install cabextract
 
  5. Download: MS Download Link

  6. Move terminal to your desktop: `cd ~/Desktop`

  7. Create a new folder: `mkdir ucrtbase`

  8. Move into ucrtbase: `cd ucrtbase`

  9. Use cabextract to extract the file:

        1. Write cabextract into the terminal press space, then drag and drop the downloaded vc_redist file into the terminal window, press enter. Command should look like: `cabextract <file path here>`

        2. Run command: cabextract a10

5. Find the new ucrtbase.dll should in the ucrtbase folder on your Desktop

6. Go back to Porting Kit and open the C: drive to the correct folder:

  1. On the AOE2:DE page in Porting Kit, press "More", then hover over "Advanced Tools", then press "Open C: Drive"

  2. Open the "windows" folder

  3. Open the "system32" folder

7. Drag the new UCRTBASE.dll file from your Desktop folder into the system32 folder we opened above. When prompted if you want to replace the file, select "replace" (as in you want to overwrite it)

8. Go back to Porting Kit and update the Wine configuration:

  1. On the AOE2:DE page in Porting Kit, press "More", then hover over "Advanced Tools", then press "Wine Configuration"

  2. Press the "Libraries" tab at the top of the newly opened Wine configuration window

  3. In the "New override for library" input, lookup "ucrtbase", press enter, then select the "ucrtbase (native, builtin)" option and click "Apply"

  4. Do the same for "concrt140"

9. Set AOE2:DE launch parameter "SKIPINTRO"

Hope this helps some people trying to get AOE going on their new macs :)

P.S: S/o to this forum for diving in and helping me solve the issue -> Codeweaver Link