Sharing Steam library between Mac and Windows partitions

[mikerahl]

Hi, all. I'm planning on buying a 16" macbook pro. I'm debating between the 4tb and the 8tb models (probably going 4tb). One question I was curious about. Can you install boot camp and share the steam library between both operating systems (i.e., have 1 installation of the Steam Library games and share them with Windows and Mac OS to save space)? If so, is there anything in particular one needs to do?

From what I can see, Wine has come quite a ways, so I may not even need windows for this, but it's nice to have options

Thanks!

 

[maflynn]

I'd say no, since macOS and Windows use different binaries, it won't be compatible.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

I'd say no, since macOS and Windows use different binaries, it won't be compatible.

+1. I have to agree with @maflynn here.

BTW even if you could share the library for 2 OS'es the savings would be negligible (assuming you have only Windows games in one library and MacOS games in the other), because the shared library would be roughly the size of both separate libraries combined.
IMHO Even if you could, I don't see many advantages in combining the libraries. Probably more trouble than it is worth.

 

[mikerahl]

+1. I have to agree with @maflynn here.

BTW even if you could share the library for 2 OS'es the savings would be negligible (assuming you have only Windows games in one library and MacOS games in the other), because the shared library would be roughly the size of both separate libraries combined.
IMHO Even if you could, I don't see many advantages in combining the libraries. Probably more trouble than it is worth.

The main reason I was thinking of this is because many of the games not designed for Mac are capable of running under Wine. So I was thinking, could I share the library and run the Proton compatibility layer to get them working on Mac OS, then if I'm in bootcamp, run them in Windows