Whisky, a popular tool for Mac gamers that helps run Windows games through Wine, will no longer receive updates.
While this might feel like a significant loss for many users, the app’s developer suggests switching to CodeWeavers’ CrossOver as a better alternative. At just 18 years old, college student Isaac Marovitz is looking to take a break from development work.
Marovitz mentioned in a message to reporters that balancing his studies at Northeastern University with his coding projects has been challenging.
He clarified that Whisky has been in a stagnant state for a while and posted the shutdown notice to address the numerous inquiries he received about its future.
Although he has a strong background in development, having previously contributed to the Switch emulator Ryujinx and other gaming initiatives like Playcover, Marovitz believes that Whisky hasn’t positively impacted the Wine community. He emphasized on the Whisky website that users should consider purchasing a CrossOver license instead.
He pointed out that while tools like CodeWeavers and Valve’s Proton have significantly advanced the Wine project, Whisky’s contributions have been minimal.
Marovitz explained that fixing Wine for Mac games requires expertise in C, Wine, Windows, and macOS, and there are very few developers with that skill set.
Marovitz noted that he had some discussions with CodeWeavers while working on Whisky. They were always supportive but never dictated his decisions.
However, he realized that Whisky could pose a threat to the success of CrossOver based on the feedback from CodeWeavers and the overall community sentiment.
Last week, CodeWeavers’ CEO shared a blog post about the shutdown of Whisky, featuring a playful image of a glass of whisky clinking with a glass of wine.
James B. Ramey expressed that while Whisky was seen as a competitor to CrossOver, the company’s response is one of empathy and support for Isaac’s situation.
Ramey highlighted that Whisky was a free version of an open-source project created by someone passionate about providing users with more options, similar to CrossOver.
However, Marovitz faced overwhelming expectations from users regarding game compatibility and performance. Ramey pointed out that proper testing and development require significant resources, and if CrossOver were not sustainable, it could negatively impact the future of WINE, Proton, and macOS gaming.
In a unique expression of respect, Ramey said, “We ‘tip our cap’ to Isaac for his contributions to macOS gaming,” opting for this phrase instead of a more straightforward reference to the drinks.
Marovitz mentioned to reporters that while user expectations were challenging, they weren’t the primary reason for halting development. He has experience with other major projects and knows how to ignore the constant demands from users.
It’s common in the coding world for open-source projects to shut down due to the heavy pressure on volunteer developers. However, it’s rare for a skilled coder to feel that their work isn’t truly benefiting the larger community and choose to step back.
During its time, Whisky raised awareness about Mac gaming and the potential of Wine, as well as Apple’s own Game Porting Toolkit, which is based on CrossOver. It likely provided Mac users with enjoyable gaming experiences that weren’t otherwise available to them.
Although Marovitz is stepping back from Whisky, he is still involved in Mac gaming. He shared with reporters that he is currently working on recompiling Sonic Unleashed for Mac, along with others, while maintaining his original goals and passions.
Other Stories You May Like