How to play Civilization V online (with and without Steam)

So I've got a Mac and a copy of Civilization V, I got from Mac App store years ago for free. A friend of mine has got a Windows machine with Civilization V running from Steam. We want to play online.

When I launch multiplayer, I only have LAN options. From quick googling it seems like the only way to play online is using Steam. I've found a way to add the 3d party game (mine) onto my Steam, but it didn't seem to help much.

Is the only option for me to play online is to purchase the game (again) from Steam?

One more question: does it have to be exactly the same version of the game (he's got a few addons which I don't have).

Pictures about "How to play Civilization V online (with and without Steam)"

How to play Civilization V online (with and without Steam) - Young Asian working mother scolding little kids playing and making noise during remote job at home

How to play Civilization V online (with and without Steam) - Side view of cute toddler girl sitting on bed barefoot and playing with colorful wooden blocks while mother using laptop in bed enjoying morning coffee

How to play Civilization V online (with and without Steam) - Tired ethnic working mother at home with playing kids

Can I play Civ 5 without Steam?

As said by Brian Schkerke you cannot legally play Civilization5 without steam. However, since Steam is un-avoidable I find it more productive to offer advice to mitigate the effect steam has on your enjoyment and on your system, for in fact many gripes people have with steam are optional and can be disabled.

Can you play Civilization 5 online?

For internet play, make sure that you can find players online before starting or joining a game. There are several ways of to find multiplayer opponents in Civilization V: Click the Internet option on Standard or Pitboss and select a server to join. Input the IP address of a server you're familiar with on Pitboss mode.

Can you play Civ 5 multiplayer on PC?

can you play local co op in Civ 5? Yeah you can play 2 or more players on one computer. Just go to multiplayer and then hot seat.

Is Civilization 5 cross platform?

There is no cross-play multiplayer between platforms. Cross-platform cloud saves are supported across all versions of the game except for PlayStation 4. Thank you for your answer. I do enjoy the game, and have put many hours into it (since civ iii).

How to Manually Install Civ 5 Mods Without Steam

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto, Tatiana Syrikova, Ketut Subiyanto