diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/macos-ci.yml
index 35bcc56e6..6f3ac2279 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos-ci.yml
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ jobs:
         env:
           MY_OS_NAME: macos
           COMPILER:   ${{ matrix.compiler }}
-          FLAGS:      "-DCMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK=LAST -DENABLE_PIE=${{ matrix.ENABLE_PIE }} -DPython3_ROOT_DIR=${{ matrix.vega-py-setup.outputs.python-path }} -DPython3_FIND_STRATEGY=LOCATION -DPython3_FIND_FRAMEWORK=LAST"
+          FLAGS:      "-DCMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK=LAST -DENABLE_PIE=${{ matrix.ENABLE_PIE }} -DPython3_ROOT_DIR=${{ matrix.vega-py-setup.outputs.python-path }} -DPython3_FIND_STRATEGY=VERSION -DPython3_FIND_FRAMEWORK=LAST"
           OPENALDIR:  "$(brew --prefix)/opt/openal-soft"
           Python3_ROOT_DIR: ${{ matrix.vega-py-setup.outputs.python-path }}
           Python_ROOT_DIR: ${{ matrix.vega-py-setup.outputs.python-path }}
diff --git a/engine/CMakeLists.txt b/engine/CMakeLists.txt
index 0a30ba8bf..13f91595a 100644
--- a/engine/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/engine/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -342,8 +342,8 @@ SET(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} ${Vega_Strike_SOURCE_DIR})
 FIND_PACKAGE(LinuxDistro REQUIRED)
 
 FIND_PACKAGE(Python3 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Development Interpreter)
-MESSAGE("++ Python library : ${Python3_LIBRARIES} (${Python3_VERSION})")
-MESSAGE("++ Python include dir : ${Python3_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
+MESSAGE(STATUS "Python library : ${Python3_LIBRARIES} (${Python3_VERSION})")
+MESSAGE(STATUS "Python include dir : ${Python3_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
 IF (Python3_FOUND)
     SET(TST_INCLUDES ${Python3_INCLUDE_DIRS})
     SET(TST_LIBS ${Python3_LIBRARIES})
@@ -353,62 +353,25 @@ ELSE (Python3_FOUND)
 ENDIF (Python3_FOUND)
 
 # Find Boost with boost_python library
-OPTION(USE_SYSTEM_BOOST "Use system boost" ON)
-IF (USE_SYSTEM_BOOST)
-    MESSAGE("++ Using System Boost")
-    FIND_PACKAGE(Boost)
-    IF (Boost_FOUND)
-
-        # VERSION_EQUAL / VERSION_GREATER requires a version in the form X.Y.Z
-        # Until CMake v3.15, Boost_VERSION is in the form as written in boost/version.hpp (e.g. 106700)
-        # Thus, build the version from parts, which should work across all supported CMake versions
-        SET(Boost_DERIVED_VERSION "${Boost_MAJOR_VERSION}.${Boost_MINOR_VERSION}.${Boost_SUBMINOR_VERSION}")
-        MESSAGE("++ Found System Boost version : ${Boost_DERIVED_VERSION}")
-
-        # With boost version 1.67 and above, python components are specified with a version suffix
-        # (`python27`, `python38`) instead of their invocation name (`python`, `python3`)
-        IF (Boost_DERIVED_VERSION VERSION_EQUAL 1.67.0)
-            SET(Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result TRUE)
-        ELSEIF (Boost_DERIVED_VERSION VERSION_GREATER 1.67.0)
-            SET(Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result TRUE)
-        ELSE (Boost_DERIVED_VERSION VERSION_EQUAL 1.67.0)
-            SET(Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result FALSE)
-        ENDIF (Boost_DERIVED_VERSION VERSION_EQUAL 1.67.0)
-        MESSAGE(STATUS "Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result: ${Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result}")
-        IF (Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result)
-            SET(BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT "python${Python3_VERSION_MAJOR}${Python3_VERSION_MINOR}")
-        ELSE (Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result)
-            SET(BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT "python3")
-
-            # Debian and Debian-based systems up to Boost 1.67 lack libboost_python3.{so|a}
-            # but have libboost_python-py{major}{minor}.{so|a}. E.g., Ubuntu xenial and
-            # Debian stretch.
-            IF (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL Linux)
-                IF (LINUX_CODENAME STREQUAL xenial OR LINUX_CODENAME STREQUAL stretch)
-                    SET(BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT "python-py3${Python3_VERSION_MINOR}")
-                ENDIF (LINUX_CODENAME STREQUAL xenial OR LINUX_CODENAME STREQUAL stretch)
-            ENDIF (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL Linux)
-        ENDIF (Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result)
-        UNSET(Boost_1_67_Or_Later_Result)
-
-        UNSET(Boost_${BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT}_FOUND)
-        MESSAGE("++ Looking for System Boost::python")
-        FIND_PACKAGE(Boost COMPONENTS ${BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT} log log_setup date_time system filesystem thread chrono atomic program_options REQUIRED)
-        IF (Boost_python3_FOUND)
-            MESSAGE("++ Found System Boost::python3 : ${Boost_PYTHON3_LIBRARY}")
-        ELSEIF (Boost_${BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT}_FOUND)
-            MESSAGE("++ Found System Boost::python")
-        ENDIF (Boost_python3_FOUND)
-
-        SET(BOOST_PYTHON_NO_PY_SIGNATURES 1)
-        SET(TST_INCLUDES ${TST_INCLUDES} ${Python3_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-        MESSAGE("** Boost_LIBRARIES: ${Boost_LIBRARIES}")
-        SET(TST_LIBS ${TST_LIBS} ${Boost_LIBRARIES})
-        INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${TST_INCLUDES})
-    ELSE (Boost_FOUND)
-        MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "Cannot find system Boost. Unable to continue.")
-    ENDIF (Boost_FOUND)
-ENDIF (USE_SYSTEM_BOOST)
+MESSAGE(STATUS "Always using system Boost now")
+SET(BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT "python${Python3_VERSION_MAJOR}${Python3_VERSION_MINOR}")
+FIND_PACKAGE(Boost COMPONENTS ${BOOST_PYTHON_COMPONENT} log log_setup date_time system filesystem thread chrono atomic program_options REQUIRED)
+IF (Boost_FOUND)
+    # VERSION_EQUAL / VERSION_GREATER requires a version in the form X.Y.Z
+    # Until CMake v3.15, Boost_VERSION is in the form as written in boost/version.hpp (e.g. 106700)
+    # Thus, build the version from parts, which should work across all supported CMake versions
+    SET(Boost_DERIVED_VERSION "${Boost_MAJOR_VERSION}.${Boost_MINOR_VERSION}.${Boost_SUBMINOR_VERSION}")
+    MESSAGE(STATUS "Found System Boost version : ${Boost_DERIVED_VERSION}")
+    MESSAGE(STATUS "Found System Boost::python3 : ${Boost_PYTHON3_LIBRARY}")
+
+    SET(BOOST_PYTHON_NO_PY_SIGNATURES 1)
+    SET(TST_INCLUDES ${TST_INCLUDES} ${Python3_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+    MESSAGE("** Boost_LIBRARIES: ${Boost_LIBRARIES}")
+    SET(TST_LIBS ${TST_LIBS} ${Boost_LIBRARIES})
+    INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${TST_INCLUDES})
+ELSE (Boost_FOUND)
+    MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "Cannot find system Boost. Unable to continue.")
+ENDIF (Boost_FOUND)
 
 IF (NOT DISABLE_CLIENT) ##########
 
diff --git a/engine/CMakePresets.json b/engine/CMakePresets.json
index b0d96644e..e3b65ca60 100644
--- a/engine/CMakePresets.json
+++ b/engine/CMakePresets.json
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@
       "cacheVariables": {
         "CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH": "/usr/local",
         "CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK": "LAST",
-        "Python3_FIND_STRATEGY": "LOCATION",
+        "Python3_FIND_STRATEGY": "VERSION",
         "Python3_FIND_FRAMEWORK": "LAST"
       }
     },
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@
         "CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH": "/opt/local",
         "Boost_INCLUDE_DIR": "/opt/local/libexec/boost/1.81/include",
         "CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK": "LAST",
-        "Python3_FIND_STRATEGY": "LOCATION",
+        "Python3_FIND_STRATEGY": "VERSION",
         "Python3_FIND_FRAMEWORK": "LAST"
       }
     },