VMware Fusion Pro is now completely free for personal and commercial use — no license key required. Since November 2024, Broadcom removed all licensing restrictions. You only need a free Broadcom account to download.
Before you start
Capitalism Lab is a Windows-only game. On a Mac, the recommended approach is to run it inside a Windows virtual machine (VM) using VMware Fusion Pro. This guide walks you through the entire process from scratch.
The experience differs slightly between Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4). The tabs in each step will guide you through the right path for your machine.
How to check your Mac's chip: Click the Apple menu () → About This Mac. You'll see either "Intel" or "Apple M1/M2/M3/M4" under the chip line.
System requirements (your Mac)
Download & install VMware Fusion Pro
FreeVMware is now owned by Broadcom. The old VMware Customer Connect portal links no longer work. You must use the Broadcom Support Portal to download Fusion Pro.
Create a free Broadcom account
Visit the Broadcom Support Portal and register for a free Basic User account. You'll need to verify your email address and complete a short trade compliance form with accurate personal details (using fake info will delay your account approval).
Register at Broadcom Support PortalDownload VMware Fusion Pro
Once logged in, go to the VMware Fusion Pro download page. Accept the Terms and Conditions checkbox, then download the latest .dmg installer file.
If you see a "Not Entitled" error, your account may still be pending approval — check your email for a verification link and try again after confirming.
Install VMware Fusion Pro
- Open the downloaded
.dmgfile and double-click the installer. - Follow the on-screen prompts. macOS may ask you to allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- When asked for a license key, click "Finish" (or select "Use for free") — no key is needed.
- Restart VMware Fusion if prompted.
Get a Windows installation image
Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4) require Windows 11 ARM. You cannot use a standard x86/x64 Windows ISO on these machines — it simply won't run. Intel Macs use the regular Windows 10 or 11 ISO.
Download Windows 10 or 11 (x64 ISO)
On an Intel Mac, you can use the standard Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO directly from Microsoft — no extra steps needed.
- Visit Microsoft's official download page.
- Select Windows 11 (recommended) or Windows 10 from the edition dropdown.
- Choose your language and download the
.isofile (around 5–6 GB).
You will need a valid Windows product key to activate Windows, or you can use it in an unactivated state with minor UI restrictions — this does not affect Capitalism Lab gameplay.
Download Windows 11 ARM64 ISO
Microsoft now provides official Windows 11 ARM ISO files for direct download — no Insider Program or workaround tools required.
- Visit Microsoft's Windows 11 ARM64 download page.
- Select the edition (Home/Pro multi-edition) and your language.
- Download the
.isofile (around 5 GB).
Good news for Capitalism Lab: Windows 11 ARM includes a built-in x86 emulation layer, so Windows games like Capitalism Lab that were compiled for Intel processors run automatically without any extra setup.
Create a Windows virtual machine
Open VMware Fusion and create a new VM
- Launch VMware Fusion Pro from your Applications folder.
- Click "Create a New Virtual Machine" (or go to File → New).
- Select "Install from disc or image" and click Continue.
- Drag and drop the Windows
.isofile you downloaded, or click "Use another disc or disc image…" to locate it. - Click Continue.
Configure encryption (required for Windows 11)
Windows 11 requires a virtual TPM chip, which VMware provides through VM encryption.
- When prompted about encryption, select "Only the files needed to support a TPM are encrypted" (faster option).
- Click "Auto Generate Password" and ensure "Remember Password and store it in Mac's Keychain" is checked.
- Click Continue.
Store this password securely. If you lose it, you won't be able to access the VM. The Keychain option means you typically won't need to enter it manually.
Configure VM resources before finishing
On the final setup screen, click "Customize Settings" before saving. Name your VM (e.g. Windows 11) and then adjust:
- Memory: Set to at least 4 GB (4096 MB). 6–8 GB is better if your Mac has 16 GB or more total RAM.
- Processors: 2 cores minimum; 4 cores recommended for smooth performance.
- Hard Disk: The default 60 GB is fine. Capitalism Lab itself only needs ~1 GB.
- Display: Enable 3D Acceleration if available — this helps Capitalism Lab's DirectX rendering.
Close the settings window when done. Your VM configuration is saved automatically.
Install Windows
Start the Windows installation
- Click the play button (▶) on your VM to start it.
- The Windows installer will launch automatically from the ISO.
- Follow the standard Windows Setup wizard:
- Select your language and region.
- Click "Install Now".
- When asked for a product key, you can click "I don't have a product key" to proceed (you can activate later, or leave it unactivated).
- Select Windows 11 Home or Pro.
- Accept the license terms.
- Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)".
- Select the available unallocated disk space and click Next.
Complete Windows setup (OOBE)
After installation, Windows will restart and walk you through initial setup. For the network/Microsoft account screen:
- You can sign in with a Microsoft account, or choose "Set up for personal use" → "Offline account" to create a local account (no Microsoft account needed to play Capitalism Lab).
- Complete the remaining prompts (privacy settings, etc.).
Tip: On Apple Silicon with Windows ARM, if you get stuck on the network screen, press Shift + Fn + F10 to open Command Prompt and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO then press Enter to bypass the network requirement.
Install VMware Tools
VMware Tools improves VM performance, enables copy-paste between macOS and Windows, and fixes display scaling.
- In VMware Fusion, go to the menu bar: Virtual Machine → Install VMware Tools.
- Inside Windows, open File Explorer → locate the VMware Tools DVD drive that appears.
- Run
setup.exe(orsetup64.exe) and complete the installation. - Restart Windows when prompted.
Run Windows Update
Go to Start → Settings → Windows Update and install all available updates. This ensures you have the latest drivers and security patches, which is especially important on Apple Silicon for x86 emulation compatibility.
Install & run Capitalism Lab
Download the Capitalism Lab installer
Inside your Windows virtual machine, open a browser and download Capitalism Lab from the official website. You'll need a registered Capitalism Lab account to play — either the free demo or your purchased copy.
Download Capitalism LabCapitalism Lab requires an internet connection and a registered account to launch the game. If you haven't registered yet, you can do so at capitalismlab.com.
Install and launch the game
- Run the downloaded installer and follow the setup wizard.
- Launch Capitalism Lab from the desktop shortcut or Start menu.
- Log in with your Capitalism Lab account credentials.
- Click Play and enjoy the game!
If the game window appears too small or you have display scaling issues, right-click the Capitalism Lab executable → Properties → Compatibility tab → "Change high DPI settings" → check "Override high DPI scaling behavior" and set it to "Application".
Tips & troubleshooting
Slow performance?
Allocate more RAM and CPU cores to the VM in Fusion settings. Close other applications on your Mac while playing. Make sure 3D acceleration is enabled.
Blurry or wrong resolution?
In VMware Fusion, go to Virtual Machine → Settings → Display and enable "Use full resolution for Retina display". Then adjust in-game resolution settings.
Copy-paste not working?
Make sure VMware Tools is installed (Step 4.3). Restart the VM after installation. Copy-paste between macOS and Windows should then work seamlessly.
Save disk space
After creating the VM, you can delete the Windows ISO file — it's only needed during initial installation. The VM disk image is all you need going forward.
Switching between apps
Press Ctrl + Command to release your mouse cursor from the VM window and switch back to macOS. Or use Unity mode for seamless switching.
Game needs internet
Capitalism Lab requires an internet connection for authentication each time you launch. Ensure your VM's network adapter is set to NAT (the default) in VMware settings.