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Shadow vs XIV on Mac: catalog facts
Shadow	XIV on Mac
Paid Paid subscription; the homepage showed a discount offer.	Free Free and open source; the game itself requires its own purchase and subscription.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web	macOS
Full Windows PC, so any launcher, mod or app can be installed Clients for most desktop and mobile platforms plus a browser	One-click Dalamud plugin setup ReShade support with many effects
Ongoing subscription cost Needs a fast, stable internet connection	Only for Final Fantasy XIV Unofficial client, so game updates can break plugins until patched
Downloadable app, Web application, Hosted service	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.