When it comes to gaming, PC owners have historically dunked on Mac users. However, Apple’s recent developments show that the company is making strides in the gaming department.
Tumultuous as Apple’s relationship has been with gaming, it seems the company is once again making a push in this field. It’s pretty unlikely that the gaming community will be wowed, but for new and old Apple users, it’s still a power-up.
Apple and Gaming, a Storied History
Apple’s history with video gameshas gone back and forth more than a game ofPong, even going all the way back to the Apple II. This fact alone is likely to alienate many in the gaming community, who more often than not want a rig dedicated to the craft. The likelihood that Apple will ever develop anything with a high focus on games is low, though that answer may also depend onhow you feel about mobile gaming on an iPhone.
Macs in particular have always had productivity at the focal point. Whether it’s graphic design, coding, writing or photography, the machines have been the standard for multitudes of professionals in these fields. Even a 15-year-old Mac is going to bepretty decent at most of these tasks and more, as long as you remember the boundaries of older tech. If you’re purchasing a Mac, the odds are good that you’re buying one for these reasons far more than you’re buying one with the intent of gaming.
Despite this, Apple is currently back on the upswing when it comes tobeing a legit gaming platform: the M-series of Apple-silicon processors has helped push the company more in this direction, and theM4 chipsetsboast some significant GPU power, which has helped deliver AAA gaming titles to the platform. Great as these strides may be, it doesn’t seem like it’s close enough to sway even a fraction of gamers from purchasing hardware that’s more dedicated to gaming, and it’s plausible that it would be a waste of time and resources on Apple’s end to even try.
Apple MacBook Pro (16-Inch, M4 Pro)
Powered by an impressive M4 Pro chip, the 16-inch MacBook Pro starts with 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD, a 14-core CPU, and a 20-core GPU, available in Space Black or Silver.
Too Little, Too Late
It isn’t just the hardware side of things, Apple’s been expanding its software as well. The company’s graphical API Metal has helped bring titles likeDeath StrandingandResident Evil 4to the Mac, which has helped it reestablish credibility as a gaming machine. For gamers, however, these are but paltry offerings in a sea of titles, and most Macs aren’t even going to run these games optimally, which means pushing the game to its highest settings, of course. Gaming is indeed present on Mac, but it’s not up to snuff just yet.
Even though Apple is continuing to make further developments in the gaming arena, even a Mac powered by an M4 chip isn’t going to be able to compete with a high-end gaming rig. Companies like NVIDIA and AMD are simply dominating the market with their graphics cards, helping create machines that can run AAA titles with 4K resolution, ray tracing, and 100+ frames per second,because 60 frames just isn’t enough.
In the competitive scene, this is a big deal. For those who play games professionally, such asOverwatch 2, a slight drop in framerate can cost you a game, and for some, that can mean it costs them actual money. Apple products simply don’t provide or support much of the hardware necessary for this level of gaming, and Macs typically being unkind towards hardware customization doesn’t help matters.
While it’s great that Apple fans get access to some high-end gaming titles, it’s really not going to be enough for even the above-average gamer. Though this is the vast majority of the market. The sway that the upper echelons of streamers and esports fanatics can have over a platform should not be underestimated.
Apple Mac Mini (M4)
Powered by an impressive M4 chip, the redesigned Mac Mini starts with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, a 10-core CPU, and a 10-core GPU.
Searching for Alternatives
AAA titles may not be arriving on the Apple App Store at an incredible rate, but there are other methods for expanding your gaming potential on Mac. Utilizing a Windows emulator such as Parallels has been a popular choice with Mac gamers for quite a while, and Boot Camp was a great solution toinstall Windows on Intel-based Macs. Unfortunately, Parallels isn’t going to solve the problems many hardcore gamers would gripe about, latency especially, but a Windows emulator can be great for anyone looking for more than Apple’s current offerings.
A far better option is to use a compatibility layer likeCrossOver. This premium app makes light work of using a WINE compatibility layer on your Mac, and works similarly to Valve’s wildly successful Proton on the Steam Deck (and other Linux distributions). It is hoped soon that, withAsahi Linux constantly improving, thatLinux gaming distro Bazzitewill get an Apple silicon native release which will further improve the range of Windows titles that run favorably on the Mac.
On the plus side, cloud-based gaming is also becoming more popular. Though eventhe best cloud gaming servicesrun off a subscription model, each with its own pricing models, services such as GeForce NOW, Xbox Live Cloud Gaming Pass, PlayStation Plus Premium, and Boosteroid can be a great way to game without having a system around. Not only can users gain access to top-of-the-line games, but being in the cloud means that performance is up to a remote server, not the specs of your machine. However, you’ll still need a solid internet connection.
Going retro is also an option on Mac, or even an iPad or iPhone. Thanks to Apple easing its restrictions on emulators in the App Store, accessing a wealth of retro consoles on an Apple device is quite easy. Whether it’s the Nintendo Entertainment System, SEGA Dreamcast, or even a TI-83 calculator, recreating the gaming experiences of yesteryear is just an app away thanks toRetroArch, Delta and others. Just be aware of the laws surroundingcopyright and the legality of video game ROMs.
A Bonus, Not a Feature
Gaming on the Mac product may never reach the same heights as a PC, but the company continuing to expand in this field is nothing but a positive for users. If you’ve owned a Mac for a good amount of time, you’re likely already accustomed to the difficulties of gaming on the device. The good news is that you also probably didn’t buy your Mac for gaming.
However, you’re also acutely aware of all the positives of being a Mac owner:a battery that never quits, eye-popping displays, and top-tier integration with everything in Apple’s ecosystem. You’re not going to be running the latestCall of Dutyat its highest setting, but you’re still taking in everything a Mac has to offer.
As a dedicated Apple user, I find the company pushing its gaming capabilities to be a perk rather than something that’s going to redefine the company, and I suspect that’s largely Apple’s belief too. It’s a lot like finding your favorite dessert is even better with syrup: it was already something you liked, yet you found out it just got a little better. Being able to playResident Evilin between tasks or a lunch break is simply a bonus when you’re likely using your machine to whisper softly with your muse or positively enhance your workflow.
It’s a great approach from a business perspective. Rather than Apple pouring millions, if not billions, of dollars into attempting to be something it’s not—in this case, a top-tier gaming company—it can instead spend less to gradually expand its gaming capabilities as a way to entice casual players while continuing to win over its current customer base. However, considering the rate at which the company developed Apple TV+ and had programming winning Oscars in three years, it can certainly make one wonder what Applegoing whole-hog on being a gaming juggernautwould look like.
Still Trying
The day a professional gamer enters a high-stakes tournament with a Mac in hand is probably never going to come, and that’s fine as Apple still appeals to a large variety of other users. There are plenty of reasons to love a Mac, especially if you’re the creative type. Though gaming will likely never be a major interest for the company, Apple making the push it has is a solid win for most users.
For the majority of Apple users, it’s a great middle-ground. Being able to spend hours fine-tuning an image in Photoshop in between FaceTime calls, all while being able to take breaks with a quick game, only shows the prowess of a Mac. For someone with a more than passing interest in gaming, however, getting a second device such as a Steam Deck or PS5 is going to be essential.
Who knows, Apple may lose interest in gaming, just as it has done before. Right now, though, the future looks rather bright. Those that are already Apple fans only have more to love, and Apple’s push towards more gaming options is sure to win over new faces. Macs are highly capable at a lot of tasks: from productivity, development, and design, to streaming, FaceTiming, and connecting. Gaming isn’t necessarily where it could be, and that’s okay.
