How can I activate a game bought from the Mac App Store on Steam?
If Civilization 5 was bought from the Mac App Store, would I be able to activate it on Steam, and how could I do so?
It says here that CD keys for Civ 5 are accepted on Steam. Would this still work for if that game was bought on the Mac App Store? Does Apple's DRM allow compatibility with this other system or is there something that the developer of that game does to allow activation of that game on Steam?
I will accept "No" as an answer to this question because I am not sure myself if this is possible.
No, it isn't possible.
To activate a game on Steam that you purchased from a third party, two things need to happen:
- You must be provided with a CD key from the third-party retailer.
- It must be a game for which Steam accepts third-party CD keys.
When you buy a game (or any other software) on the Mac App Store, you aren't provided with a CD key, since the MAS itself handles product activation. (Apple's requirement is that all software sold on the MAS uses Apple's activation methods. CD keys and the like are disallowed.)
After contacting the developer with proof of purchase from the Mac App Store, they gave me a Steam key, allowing me to activate the game on Steam.
Short answer to original question is 'Yes.' When you purchase through the Mac Games Store, keys are provided. These keys work on Steam. I just tried it.