- Apple has developed a Game Porting Tool to make it easier for developers to bring their Windows games to the Mac. The tool translates DirectX 12 into Metal 3, Apple’s graphics API, allowing developers to create native macOS versions of their games with superior performance.
- The public beta of macOS Sonoma, which includes the Game Porting Tool, is expected to launch this autumn. The move demonstrates Apple’s commitment to expanding the gaming capabilities of its devices and transforming the Mac into a competitive gaming platform.
- By providing developers with the necessary tools and features to optimize their games for macOS, Apple aims to entice developers to bring their games to the platform and enhance its value as a gaming ecosystem. Currently available as a beta for developers, macOS Sonoma will soon have a public beta release, with the official version expected to launch this fall.
Apple has made it easier for game developers to bring their Windows games to macOS by launching a new technology called Metal for Mac. It is a graphics application programming interface (API) that enables developers to optimize their games for macOS, essentially making it easier to port games from Windows to Mac.
Metal for Mac provides a low-level performance-focused API that takes full advantage of the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) in modern Macs. This allows game developers to tap into a wider range of hardware capabilities, which can translate into better, more immersive gaming experiences on macOS systems.
With Metal for Mac, developers can take advantage of features like multi-threaded parallel processing, which allows the GPU to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, resulting in faster, smoother gameplay. This is a significant improvement over the previous graphics API used in macOS, which was not as performant as Metal.
The introduction of Metal for Mac is expected to drive more game developers to develop games for macOS systems, which is great news for Mac gamers who have struggled in the past with fewer options compared to Windows users. It also positions Apple’s macOS platform as a more viable option for game developers and publishers, potentially opening up new revenue streams for Apple.
While Metal for Mac is still relatively new, it has already been well-received by the developer community, with many praising its ease of use, improved performance, and flexibility. With Apple’s continued investment in Metal for Mac, it’s safe to say that the future looks bright for gamers on macOS systems.