- Sign up for Paperspace virtual servers, add a credit card ($10 coupon below), and request permission (reason: “cloud gaming”) for the cheapest GPU+ Machine. .54c USD/hour + $7/month for 100GB storage. 50GB not enough.
- Wait 24 hours for approval
- Once approved, launch new machine with the following
- DO NOT use the Parsec template
- Select region closest to you
- Licensed Windows Server running as Windows 10 Desktop
- Cheapest GPU+ offering, 100GB storage. AOE 4 highest settings works perfectly
- Install Paperspace native app on your client machine, and login, so you can remote control the paperspace instance
- Create a Parsec account and install the Parsec app on the paperspace instance (Parsec is free)
- Open Parsec, login, in settings under the host tab, select “allow connections to this computer”. Leave all other settings AS-IS
- Leave the Parsec app running on the virtual instance and close the Paperspace app on you client machine. You should not run two remote control apps at the same time
- Download Parsec on your client machine, login, and you should see your Paperspace instance. Click to open it and you now have full control of your Paperspace instance
- Install all Windows Updates. You MUST do this as the Paperspace image is old. You MUST do this before installing Steam
- AFTER installing updates and restarting, install Steam
- Install AOE 4 Beta (instructions in your invite email)
- Enjoy and let me know if you experience any issues.
- Make sure to shutdown your Paperspace instance from the Paperspace web console after you’re finished. You will still accrue the monthly storage cost, but not the hourly cost. You can maybe set the automatic shutdown when idle to 1 hour, but I have not tested this.
- Use my referral code: get $10 Paperspace credit. https://console.paperspace.com/signup?R=LMUHWV9
I have since stopped using Paperspace since it was too finnicky and the streaming quality was not as good as expected. You can try PortingKit, directions for AOE 2: DE are listed below but should be similar for AOE 4. Let me and everyone else know what worked for you and if you have any improvements!
Thank you for your response! Glad to hear someone else using the same methods for playing popular PC games on the M1/Mac. I noticed the automatic shutdown after 1 hour as well. I've lost a few multiplayer games like that :(
To keep costs low, however, I've switched away from this method and instead recently installed Portingkit: https://portingkit.com/game/1545 Getting the game to launch is a bit of a magic trick--it may need 5-6 tries and a full restart of macOS. But everything works well with the enhanced graphics pack and native resolution on the 16" M1. Something worth trying. Make sure to follow the instructions exactly.
EDIT: Just realized this PortingKit was for AOE 2: DE. I'll leave it here in case anyone else comes across this