Can AAA games finally take off on M1 iPad Pro going forward....

[Admiralbison]

Or are there still some serious hindrances?

hardware spec wise there doesn’t seem to be too many roadblocks from what I can see:
The M1 iPad Pro, M1 Macbook and M1 iMac have more or less unified specs across the board and there are calls for pro apps that can really utilize all that power in an M1 iPad Pro...so surely AAA games at least on M1 Macs could do the same on an M1 iPad Pro.

Divinity 2 is the first AAA game (with respect to XCOM 2, Grid Autosport, Company of heroes etc...) that is really pushing the 2018/2020 iPad Pro and a fair bit on the base model M1 iPad Pro.

The devs have had to really work their magic around the 2018/2020 iPad Pro’s limited memory availability 6GB around only 3GB and base Model M1 iPad Pro 8G working with around 4-5GB, although the M1 iPad Pro‘s 16GB would be more accommodating.

——-

I can definitely understand and believe it is the best decision that Divinity 2 will only run on 2018 iPad Pros and up; and frankly it wouldn’t bother me if they made it only exclusive to the M1 iPad Pros (besides M1 Macs) as it means they are drawing a line in the sand and setting higher standards not compromising the game just to fit unreasonable lowest spec common denominators.

if anything having some or many pro apps and AAA games exclusively on M1 iPad Pros is probably the “killer apps” needed to justify the M1 iPad Pros.
——

So what have at everyone, are there any good reasons out there why AAA games can’t take off on or be inspired to come to the M1 iPad Pro going forward?

 

[Isengardtom]

Performance wise we’re definitely at a point where they could come, the question will be if the devs are interested in developing them for iPadOS.

part of the issue is users need to get used to paying more for these apps.

(Divinity also runs on the 2020 iPad Air 4 just thought I’d add that)

 

[iF34R]

I'm super excited to see what the developers can do! I reached out to Clap Hanz about upgrading the visuals on Clap Hanz Golf, but no reply yet. It looks decent, but even on 2017 iPad Pro it looks a tad bit outdated.

 

[byron_hinson]

Hope so though worry how long it’ll be til any games take real advantage of the m1. Divinity is the only one that seems to currently.

 

[Admiralbison]

Performance wise we’re definitely at a point where they could come, the question will be if the devs are interested in developing them for iPadOS.

part of the issue is users need to get used to paying more for these apps.

(Divinity also runs on the 2020 iPad Air 4 just thought I’d add that)

yeah I always find that odd - considering the amount of money spent on fairly pretty premium and expensive hardware one would hope to have premium apps for a premium experience.

Perhaps users don’t need to get used to paying more if the right demograph of users are targeted instead and a clear distinction is made between casual users and heavy/prosumers.

Surely there is a big enough market now that has a good number of both casual and heavy/prosumer demo graphs
e.g. 1
Final cut pro for the Mac is a few hundred dollars, bundle that up with Logic Pro the costs get serious but for pro users these are essential - since there are calls for the full Pro apps such as these on the M1 iPad Pro it would be reasonable the prices would be comparable..if not the same if they could be used both on an M1 iPad Pro and M1 Macbook Pro.

now that would scare off casual iPad users, but for heavy iPad Pro users or prosumers this is something they are more familiar with, accustomed to and would snap up...I mean I know I would if I could have them both run on my iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.

For those looking for something more casual with a causal price LumaFusion and VN are more appropriate.

There you will have two demographs - App devs with lighter apps shouldn’t have to worry about competing with high end pro apps as there will still be a demograph that prefers their kind of apps

Where as Pro app devs shouldn’t be scared charging their usual prices and not lower them and compromising their apps because there are heavy and prosumers that prefer their apps.

e.g. 2
The same goes for PC/Console gamers - We are, begrudgingly, used to big storage space requirements and $40-60 AAA games...if the same games, without compromise, can be ported to an M1iPad Pro and I can more or less get the same experience plus have cross compatibility/availability buy it for the M1 Mac it is available for M1 iPad Pro I would then pay the same price.


Really seperate what makes the iPads/iPad Air regular and appropriate for casual users and the “Pro” line for those who demand more with Pro apps and AAA games that really utilizes all that power beyond just price and size differences.

 

[ericwn]

The hardware on iPad has been powerful for a while already. It will come down to a mix of reasons, one being that most children and teenagers probably do not belong into the iPad Pro buyer demographic.

Those groups may also play via a console at home in addition, or a PC of course.

So to hit break even your games will either be written for a fairly tiny group of Pro users with a big price tag or you address the wider audience that uses the entry level models, but are they interested in paying for the app?

And while I really enjoy Grid, it’s an old game and no other big racing game has followed its footsteps into the iPad market for years. And while it’s ok to play this on my iPad, the experience playing in front of a nicely sized TV is so much more immersive than my iPad screen.

 

[Admiralbison]

The hardware on iPad has been powerful for a while already. It will come down to a mix of reasons, one being that most children and teenagers probably do not belong into the iPad Pro buyer demographic.

Those groups may also play via a console at home in addition, or a PC of course.

So to hit break even your games will either be written for a fairly tiny group of Pro users with a big price tag or you address the wider audience that uses the entry level models, but are they interested in paying for the app?

And while I really enjoy Grid, it’s an old game and no other big racing game has followed its footsteps into the iPad market for years. And while it’s ok to play this on my iPad, the experience playing in front of a nicely sized TV is so much more immersive than my iPad screen.

is it possible to combine Mac Gamers with iPad Pro and Apple TV gamers into one big fluid demograph?

e.g. hypothetically

I buy Metro Exodus and Tombraider on the Mac App Store, and these M1 versions of the game also allows me to play those very same games on my M1 iPad Pro and/or M1 Apple TV. (Say all the porting, translating is automatically done)

So from a gamers perspective that is pretty incentivizing, I mean one of the reasons I used to prefer to get my Mac games on Steam rather than the Mac App store is because of the cross platform compatibility Ie I buy it for Mac I can also download and play a Windows version.

What IF getting the Mac App Store version this time allowed for that Platform cross comparability but for across three devices - M1 Macs, M1 iPad Pros and M1 Apple TV

From a devs perspective it could mean opening up their games to more than just one platform of either a Mac, an iPad Pro or an Apple TV but a combined platform of M1 Mac, M1 iPad Pro and M1 Apple Tv the real benefit is an automatically few million more larger potential user base.

They have a greater chance to break even and then some.

————————————-—————-
****Here I believe is the kicker.**** - Cross sectionally of demographs

1. Speaking as a PC gamer, I honestly don’t care for AAA games on Macs anymore, even though I use MacBook Pro for other things so those devs can’t target me there....HOWEVER, I happen to also be a heavy iPad Pro user that would just love to be able play AAA games on my iPad Pro on the go.
(hence I snapped XCOM 2 and Divinity 2)

Sure I could get Divinity 2 on my Gaming PC (which I do already), but also happen to have gotten it for my 2020 iPad Pro as well...and the thing is personally I play it more on my iPad Pro than I have done my Alienware 15’ R2 1070 laptop.

The devs didn’t get a sale on the M1 Mac, but they sure as heck did on an iPad Pro.

2. What if you had Apple TV users in the mix that felt the same way with Macs and iPad Pro, but wouldn’t mind playing a AAA game like Divinity on their large 4K tv?
now the devs have a third automatic and different demograph they can target.

3. Most teenagers probably don’t belong in the iPad Pro bracket...but many adolescents can and the iPad Air is ablue to run Divinity 2 as a poster brought up.
If their playing Cod, PUBG on an M1 iPad Pro/iPad Air what’s to stop them wanting to play AAA versions of Cod Warzone, Dota 2 and Overwatch? (pretending Steam and Blizzard also sell this on the Mac App Store) on an M1 iPad Pro/iPad Air?

Apple‘s ecosystem can then come into play.

As an iPad Pro user who loves AAA games on their iPad Pro, maybe I should start to consider why not just start getting AAA games on my iPad Pro because I also know I can then eventual play the on my M2X MacBook Pro and vice versa.

 

[AutomaticApple]

most children and teenagers probably do not belong into the iPad Pro buyer demographic.

What about the iPad Air?

 

[Admiralbison]

The hardware on iPad has been powerful for a while already. It will come down to a mix of reasons, one being that most children and teenagers probably do not belong into the iPad Pro buyer demographic.

Those groups may also play via a console at home in addition, or a PC of course.

So to hit break even your games will either be written for a fairly tiny group of Pro users with a big price tag or you address the wider audience that uses the entry level models, but are they interested in paying for the app?

And while I really enjoy Grid, it’s an old game and no other big racing game has followed its footsteps into the iPad market for years. And while it’s ok to play this on my iPad, the experience playing in front of a nicely sized TV is so much more immersive than my iPad screen.

Also Mr.MacRight on YouTube has been testing heaps of M1 Mac, Apple tv and iPad Pro games...including Divinity 2 and speaking with the developers about it.

He is currently doing a 25 iPad games tested under Apple M1/M1 iPad Pro

One day I hope to see him do a video of 25 AAA M1 Mac games tested under M1 iPad Pro.

Imagine having CSGO on your iPad Pro and just having mobile LAN parties anytime, anywhere with work mates and their iPad Pros?

You’d be fired from your job in no time for not doing any work!

 

[ericwn]

What about the iPad Air?

That’s certainly a more accessible option. The majority of users will certainly either have that or the entry level iPad.

The idea to game on iPad isn’t new, all that has changed is that it now runs the exact same chip as the Mac. Which, honestly speaking, hasn’t been a huge attraction for traditional gamers either.

Aren’t there even remote play options for both Xbox and PS available so you can play your console titles on iPad?

 

[Admiralbison]

That’s certainly a more accessible option. The majority of users will certainly either have that or the entry level iPad.

The idea to game on iPad isn’t new, all that has changed is that it now runs the exact same chip as the Mac. Which, honestly speaking, hasn’t been a huge attraction for traditional gamers either.

Aren’t there even remote play options for both Xbox and PS available so you can play your console titles on iPad?

The M1 chip on a Mac is not going to attract console/pc gamers away from their consoles and gaming PCs for gaming...it certainly hasn’t for me either.
I don’t want to get into streaming as that just obfuscates the issue, and as a console/pc gamer I don’t care less for streaming, monthly fees etc...when I have capable hardware for AAA gaming already...it’s too early to tell with games as a service/streaming.

Besides all that I do have an iPad Pro and its “potential” to allow me to play AAA games on the go would be appealing.

so far the hindrances tallied seem to be

1. The demograph of AAA gamers would be using other consoles and PC instead - that makes sense as history has shown mobile devices, in this case the iPad simply isn’t the place for that kind of thing

2. Not a large enough demograph of core gamers for AAA devs to easily break even on the iPad

3. Bulk of iPad users are using the regular line of iPads that are not capable of running the newest AAA games at a satisfactory level...the 2020 iPad Air being an exception thus far since it can run Divinity 2

4. Majority of iPad users are not use to paying more for higher end apps, pro apps (remains to be seen) or AAA games (still too early to tell) (I would really like to see that stats for these if it is possible)

5. Development or rollout of AAA games on to the iPad, IF it were to happen when apprehension, restrictions and issues for AAA devs are more or less resolved, may still take a long time to happen.
Divinity 2 took a year and a half to happen

6. Possible alternative methods of AAA play - games as a service/ streaming subscription service

 

[iF34R]

I think a bringing a game over to the iPad is more feasible. I hope at least. Like GRiD, it's pretty awesome. Love to see some more indie games come over.

 

[Isengardtom]

We’ll definitely see cloud gaming (via the browser)

I would love for a game like Anno to get ported to the iPad

 

[Admiralbison]

The M1 iPad Pro is stepping into desktop computer specs and console level hardware (Xbox One/PS4)
it would be increasingly ridiculous if the M1 iPad Pro line also did not have the appropriate Operating software, Pro Apps and AAA games that are designed to take advantage and utilize such hardware and giving heavy iPad Pro users and prosumers to be empowered.

 

[Admiralbison]

We’ll definitely see cloud gaming (via the browser)

I would love for a game like Anno to get ported to the iPad

Which is sad that gamers have to rely on game streaming through a browser when they have perfectly good and powerful enough hardware to run their games locally.

Would gamers prefer to play Divinity 2 on their M1 iPad Pro or pay monthly fees and rely on the Internet to play it?


it’s not the specs that is holding back AAA games on iPads, it’s the greedy bs monetary models and Apples restrictions that have helped manifest those models in the first place.

bottom of the barrel junk:
F2P monetary model
Online only
Subscriptions and streaming.


it’s ridiculous to have an M1 iPad Pro with desktop computer level specs and still persist running it with iPhone Operating System/environment, mobile $5/5MB/5 minute app/games and streaming.

it’s like buying an expensive Ferrari Supercar but installing it with hifi systems, nav software and 70’s Ford Pinto steering wheel from a clearance bargain bin by WallMart.

 

[pmiles]

Which is sad that gamers have to rely on game streaming through a browser when they have perfectly good and powerful enough hardware to run their games locally.

If you haven't been paying attention, everything is being switched to on-line services... music, movies, games, books, software...

Everything is becoming a subscription service.

The days desktop PCs even being a thing are slowly diminishing. We have watches and phones and tablets that are getting capable of doing everything over the air.

It's actually the desktop PC that is the dinosaur in this equation... which is another reason why gaming is not likely ever to take off on a Mac desktop... because they will be the first to abandon the desktop.

Apple is all about services now... and devices that support those services.

 

[Admiralbison]

If you haven't been paying attention, everything is being switched to on-line services... music, movies, games, books, software...

Everything is becoming a subscription service.

The days desktop PCs even being a thing are slowly diminishing. We have watches and phones and tablets that are getting capable of doing everything over the air.

It's actually the desktop PC that is the dinosaur in this equation... which is another reason why gaming is not likely ever to take off on a Mac desktop... because they will be the first to abandon the desktop.

Apple is all about services now... and devices that support those services.

Well...isn’t that kind of silly?


why bother spending so much money for a highend spec devices at all when all that is needed a controller, a cheap phone/tablet/netbook and internet.

did you not pay attention how much Google Stadia, Amazon game services and Facebook games flopped?

nonsense that Software as a service/games as service is going to be the future, no matter how hard publishers try and push it.


What‘s the point of getting an M1 iPad Pro when all you need is any iPad for 6 years ago to stream games??

 

[Admiralbison]

If you haven't been paying attention, everything is being switched to on-line services... music, movies, games, books, software...

Everything is becoming a subscription service.

The days desktop PCs even being a thing are slowly diminishing. We have watches and phones and tablets that are getting capable of doing everything over the air.

It's actually the desktop PC that is the dinosaur in this equation... which is another reason why gaming is not likely ever to take off on a Mac desktop... because they will be the first to abandon the desktop.

Apple is all about services now... and devices that support those services.

“Apple is all about services now...”

?
get back to me when they stop making expensive and relatively powerful devices, Pro Apps and the vast majority of the market uses software as a service.

 

[Admiralbison]

M1 iPad Pro has the M1 Macbook specs to run AAA games...so what is the hold up?

 

[ipponrg]

M1 iPad Pro has the M1 Macbook specs to run AAA games...so what is the hold up?

I think your post #11 covered it well.

Off the top of my head, the high level categories include:
- Specs
- Popularity
- Return on investment
- Ease of porting

Right now, just "specs" are satisfied.

 

[Admiralbison]

I think your post #11 covered it well.

Off the top of my head, the high level categories include:
- Specs
- Popularity
- Return on investment
- Ease of porting

Right now, just "specs" are satisfied

IF Apple made it easy/easier for Mac devs to have their games “automatically translated” on to M1 iPad Pros and M1 Apple TV’s (if they decide to opt in) like iOS apps on to Big Sur this might go along way to help solve

-popularity
-return on investment
-ease of porting.

hypothetically speaking
Devs could just make one version of their game (I’m not a dev, so I don’t know the technical details) and opt to have it on just one platform - Macs or have it available on all three platforms - M1 iPad Pro (would need an obligatory touch controls) M1 Apple TV and M1 Macs

Not so many resources needed to make three different versions
expose the game on triple the platform and better chance for returns on investment.

again hypothetical example - technical issues like memory constraints, App Store restrictions and policies were smoothed over.

Larian Studios creates Divinity 2 for M1 iPad Pros - and they opt in to allow the same version of the game to also be playable on M1 Macs and M1 Apple TV.

Apple advertises this as a value cross over feature for buying on the App store, ever\home benefits - Gamers, Devs and Apple.

 

[diamond.g]

IF Apple made it easy/easier for Mac devs to have their games “automatically translated” on to M1 iPad Pros and M1 Apple TV’s (if they decide to opt in) like iOS apps on to Big Sur this might go along way to help solve

-popularity
-return on investment
-ease of porting.

hypothetically speaking
Devs could just make one version of their game (I’m not a dev, so I don’t know the technical details) and opt to have it on just one platform - Macs or have it available on all three platforms - M1 iPad Pro (would need an obligatory touch controls) M1 Apple TV and M1 Macs

Not so many resources needed to make three different versions
expose the game on triple the platform and better chance for returns on investment.

again hypothetical example - technical issues like memory constraints, App Store restrictions and policies were smoothed over.

Larian Studios creates Divinity 2 for M1 iPad Pros - and they opt in to allow the same version of the game to also be playable on M1 Macs and M1 Apple TV.

Apple advertises this as a value cross over feature for buying on the App store, ever\home benefits - Gamers, Devs and Apple.

If developers have gone through the trouble to make a Mac version of a game to begin with, it stands to reason they could make an iPadOS version as well. Presuming there are no gotchas (like storage limitations).

They will never tell us, but it would be interesting to know how many copies of Divinity 2 they have sold on iPadOS versus macOS in a given time period.