Apple CAN’T do AAA gaming [Merged Megathread]

[Nugat Trailers]

I find it interesting it isn't listed on IGN's list of upcoming games.

Upcoming Mac Games - Release Dates, Trailers, Info and more - IGN

Check out this list of upcoming releases.

www.ign.com

Ah. I think I see why. It was EGS exclusive, came out there last year. It's only now that it's coming to Steam.

 

[DarthVader!]

The title of this thread - Apple can't do AAA gaming.

As a Pc user who just recently purchased MBP (yes, I've owned a mac years and years ago), I've come to the conclusion that as of 2022, Macs cannot do AAA gaming. Few if any games I want to play work natively in macOS. I don't consider myself a gamer, but I do like the occasional game or two.

With my brand new MBP, I've completely struck out in trying to play a game on the laptop. A number of posts in the MBP forums across various threads also show many other members cautioning prospective buyers if you're a gamer, then don't consider the Mac.

I understand with 43 pages in this thread, there's a lot of people trying to justify the mac as a current or possible future gaming machine but for my personal experience that's simply not the case. I'm not marginalizing other people's opinion but stating my experience. There are thousands of games in steam that can play on the mac, but if we're talking AAA titles scant few do.

Maybe in the future, conditions will change and studios will consider Macs, but as of 2022 and quite possibly 2023, I don't see that.

 

[Irishman]

EDIT:

I wrote something disagreeing with all this nonsense, but honestly what's the point? The above person is only interested in posting things which mislead and misdirect against the platforms this forum was created to discuss.

Take a few weeks off.

Yeah, didn’t you know? Wine doesn’t work on the Mac. You have more class than I do.

 

[Irishman]

It’s just more recognition that game developers don’t have to focus on anything but Windows and consoles. For anything else, the users will just contort the system of choice to run a Windows executable.

But, it’s not, though. All Mitchy has done is make a laundry list of imagined gripes, all centered on - surprise surprise - the Mac.

You must remember: bullet points do not facts make. Not one source or link to back up any of his criticisms, which wouldn’t be so bad if he was appealing to common knowledge (things we all know). But he’s not. And neither are you, in your lowest hanging fruit support of him.

 

[Irishman]

So why don’t Mac users understand this? I’m making my game a windows exclusive. Nothing Apple could do would entice me to change that unless they get 80%+ marketshare over night.

Which Mac gamers don’t understand how exclusives work

Without context and specificity, you’re painting with an impossibly broad brush.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

But, it’s not, though. All Mitchy has done is make a laundry list of imagined gripes, all centered on - surprise surprise - the Mac.

You must remember: bullet points do not facts make. Not one source or link to back up any of his criticisms, which wouldn’t be so bad if he was appealing to common knowledge (things we all know). But he’s not. And neither are you, in your lowest hanging fruit support of him.

If you look at the Linux list, even if every bullet point is fake, almost every one just cries out “Linux runs Intel based Windows games better”. Which… since you can actually buy a Windows system with an Intel option and install Linux on it… isn’t that a given? I understand that supporting reality can sometimes be problematic, but that doesn’t change reality.

 

[Ethosik]

Which Mac gamers don’t understand how exclusives work

Without context and specificity, you’re painting with an impossibly broad brush.

The people on this thread saying it’s Apple’s fault there aren’t more games. Just like it’s Microsoft’s fault those PS5 exclusives aren’t on Windows?

A lot of Developers code exclusively for consoles and sometimes port to PC later if we are lucky.

 

[diamond.g]

The people on this thread saying it’s Apple’s fault there aren’t more games. Just like it’s Microsoft’s fault those PS5 exclusives aren’t on Windows?

A lot of Developers code exclusively for consoles and sometimes port to PC later if we are lucky.

Are you saying that your game is Windows Exclusive because MS offered you an exclusivity deal, or they own your studio/ip?

 

[GrumpyCoder]

Have you ever tried this?

Metal Developer Tools on Windows Offer New Gaming Opportunities

Game developers are now able to more easily develop games for Apple devices using Windows machines, thanks to a new set of Metal developer tools...

www.macrumors.com

Not sure what you’re asking. Even using this, you still have to create a Metal version of your game. Might as well do it on a Mac. 🤷‍♂️

 

[tubular]

.

 

[cardfan]

Two words: Apple Pippin. Lasted less than a year, sold 42,000 units (according to Wikipedia). I somehow doubt Apple's going to be rushing into reentering the console market. That said, isn't the AppleTV a console (of sorts)...?

Nope..not even close. Apple just lacks vision. Jobs gave them iOS which a monkey could have iterated.

 

[Ethosik]

Are you saying that your game is Windows Exclusive because MS offered you an exclusivity deal, or they own your studio/ip?

No. I’m saying it’s not Apple’s fault I’m making it a windows exclusive.

 

[diamond.g]

No. I’m saying it’s not Apple’s fault I’m making it a windows exclusive.

If Apple you offered you some cash would you port the game?

 

[orionquest]

If anyone wants a realty check on the state of AAA or Mac games in general here you go.

Best of Steam - 2021

A look back at the year's top sellers, new releases, most-played games, and more!

store.steampowered.com

Not much to choose from.

 

[Ethosik]

If Apple you offered you some cash would you port the game?

No I would not. It would take time or resources away from me focusing on the core of the game. I would need to pivot to fixing and potentially re-doing a lot of work on the mac side (same thing would happen on Linux too - different environments different bugs and fixes) or I would need to hire someone and spend time away from my work getting them up to speed. Ultimately, it would result in a "meh" game on macOS and Windows vs a "good/great" game on Windows (due to lacking content and being fleshed out).

 

[Irishman]

If anyone wants a realty check on the state of AAA or Mac games in general here you go.

Best of Steam - 2021

A look back at the year's top sellers, new releases, most-played games, and more!

store.steampowered.com

Not much to choose from.

Why do you consider a self-published and self-curated Best of 2021 list on Steam to be an indictment of Mac gaming across the board?

And, finally, what experience in gaming on the Mac have you had?

 

[orionquest]

Why do you consider a self-published and self-curated Best of 2021 list on Steam to be an indictment of Mac gaming across the board?

And, finally, what experience in gaming on the Mac have you had?

It's what gamers are interested in, and lack of AAA games on the Mac. Clear enough for you?

We are not talking about my experience on the Mac, thread is about AAA gaming, of which there aren't any.

 

[Irishman]

It's what gamers are interested in, and lack of AAA games on the Mac. Clear enough for you?

We are not talking about my experience on the Mac, thread is about AAA gaming, of which there aren't any.

Oh, man, you have no clue, do you??

So, you’ve got no first-hand experience with playing games on the Mac, much less AAA games on the Mac, otherwise you’d know that they exist. And they’re available on Steam, which I know because I have played them. Natively, on my Mac. Unless you don’t count the Metro trilogy (2033, Last Light, and Exodus)?? Or the Tomb Raider trilogy (2013, Rise, and Shadow)?? Or The Borderlands series? Portal?? Portal 2?? Half-Life?? Half-Life 2?? Team Fortress 2?? Left 4 Dead 2?? Deus Ex:Human Revolution?? Deus Ex: Mankind Divided??

Christ Almighty! I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ve played more AAA Steam games on my Mac than you have on your PC!

Show me your Steam Library and I’ll show you mine!

Now, I’m not claiming that we get all the same AAA games that PC gamers get, but I’m not claiming that we have none!!

 

[jav6454]

Why do you consider a self-published and self-curated Best of 2021 list on Steam to be an indictment of Mac gaming across the board?

And, finally, what experience in gaming on the Mac have you had?

The interest of gamers are around those specific games, that's why they are there. Hence, the lack of Mac support hurts.

Also, what does that poster gaming experience matter? Stick to the thread's content. Also, a show me yours argument just shows you are grasping for straws. Not all games are there for Mac. For instance, for me, Fallout 4 is a game I love and isn't for there for Mac. Another one I like, AoE 2 DE. Not in Mac. Should I go on? I mean, just because a few games are there doesn't mean gamers will rush to a platform.

 

[Irishman]

The interest of gamers are around those specific games, that's why they are there. Hence, the lack of Mac support hurts.

Also, what does that poster gaming experience matter? Stick to the thread's content. Also, a show me yours argument just shows you are grasping for straws. Not all games are there for Mac. For instance, for me, Fallout 4 is a game I love and isn't for there for Mac. Another one I like, AoE 2 DE. Not in Mac. Should I go on? I mean, just because a few games are there doesn't mean gamers will rush to a platform.

I am sticking to the thread’s topic, I just disagree with its premise, especially when posters like orionquest make demonstrably untrue claims in support of that topic.

Please, do go on, because your list of games that you like to play that aren’t on the Mac is a grand total of two!!

Did you even read my list of AAA games that I own and enjoy playing natively on my Mac? I brought them up to counter orionquest’s claim that there are zero AAA Mac games on Steam.

Also, I did reiterate to him that I am nowhere claiming that the Mac platform gets every AAA PC title!

And further, there may be some proof or evidence of orionquest’s claim, but the article he picked doesn’t provide that. Not even remotely!

 

[Irishman]

The people on this thread saying it’s Apple’s fault there aren’t more games. Just like it’s Microsoft’s fault those PS5 exclusives aren’t on Windows?

A lot of Developers code exclusively for consoles and sometimes port to PC later if we are lucky.

And do you really think that those same people who are saying that in this thread would self-identify as Mac gamers, by and large?

 

[Homy]

If anyone wants a realty check on the state of AAA or Mac games in general here you go.

Best of Steam - 2021

A look back at the year's top sellers, new releases, most-played games, and more!

store.steampowered.com

Not much to choose from.

Gamers are not a homogeneous group and the reality is not as simple as you may want to suggest. If your reality is about playing Cyberpunk, RDR 2 or the latest releases then it’s as it always has been, Mac is not for you. That’s not a surprise for us Mac gamers. It’s a fact we’ve been living with for a long time and something that doesn’t bother many of us. It’s about seeing a half empty or half full glass. As casual gamers we have still more than enough to play with.

At a first glance it may look as ”not much to choose from” but it gets more interesting when you start to look at actual numbers on that list.

According to Steam the Mac user base is only 2.55%, but it’s more than twice as large as Linux 1.14%.

- Top 100 Best sellers: Mac 28 (%), Linux 18 (%)
- Top 25 New releases: Mac 4 (16%), Linux 1 (4%)
- Top 50 Early access graduates: Mac 20 (40%), Linux 12 (24%)

Suddenly it looks more promising. I’m not talking about revenue but availability. A platform that has only 2.55% of Steam’s user base has a 28% share among the top 100 best sellers, 16% among the new releases and 40% early access graduates. It may not look as much to the hardcore pc gamer but it certainly looks promising to Mac gamers who get more attention than Linux gamers.

It gets even better when you look more closely at the games. Borderlands 3 is Win only on that list but is available for Mac on Epic. The Sims 4 is available for Mac on Origin. NBA2K21 is available for Mac on App Store. Apex Legends while not on Mac will be released for iOS this month. PUBG is also on iOS, meaning Mac users can play those two on their other Apple devices.

Finally the very popular Valheim on the list is being ported to Mac. The game is made in Unity and is easy to port. Iron Gate bought their first Mac in Nov and changed the status from ”considered, but unlikely” to ”very likely”. They have assigned a new programmer for the task.

Different perspectives, different realities.

 

[mi7chy]

Unless you don’t count the Metro trilogy (2033, Last Light, and Exodus)?? Or the Tomb Raider trilogy (2013, Rise, and Shadow)?? Or The Borderlands series? Portal?? Portal 2?? Half-Life?? Half-Life 2?? Team Fortress 2?? Left 4 Dead 2?? Deus Ex:Human Revolution?? Deus Ex: Mankind Divided??

Such ancient games it brings back memories. They're so old even games like Borderlands 2, Half-life 2, Portal, etc. were playable on 2014 Nvidia Shield android tablet.

 

[Irishman]

Such ancient games it brings back memories. They're so old even games like Borderlands 2, Half-life 2, Portal, etc. were playable on 2014 Nvidia Shield android tablet.

You’re ancient, my guy.

What’s your point?

 

[mi7chy]

Half-life came out in 1998. Might as well bring up 1981 Sabotage for Apple. 😂