Inspenet, June 19, 2023.
Apple and video games a new perception
It’s been working for decades to position the Mac as a gaming platform, and it finally seems to be in a promising position to do just that. At Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023, the Vision Pro product stood out, outshining all others, while iOS 17 and watchOS 10 lagged behind in terms of what’s new. Although iPadOS 17 did not present many surprises.
In an effort to change the perception that the Mac is not suitable for gaming, Apple has presented some encouraging preliminary results. During initial testing, Diablo IV was shown to run at nearly 90fps on “Ultra” settings on a 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with an M2 Max chip, starting at €3,749. In addition, games like GTA V and Cyberpunk 2077 have also been brought to the Mac, waiting for the studios to decide to launch them on this platform.
Over the years, Apple has battled the perception that the Mac is not a place to play games, despite winning over creative guilds, college classrooms, and many homes. However, video games have always been the territory of consoles and PCs, not the Mac.
Although Apple has made some attempts in recent years, such as Apple Arcade, graphic improvements for Mac, Unity support, Metal and compatibility with PlayStation or Xbox controllers, nothing has managed to change this perception. The primary focus of many of the company’s recent decisions has been to increase fees for microtransactions and subscriptions on the App Store, in order to boost Mac sales and increase commissions.
For any game to be ported to the Mac, it needs a digital distribution space. In the past, this wasn’t necessary, but today, with dwindling ports and the absence of optical drives, any software that wants to get to the Mac needs a point of discovery, access, and billing and payment management. Although macOS remains more open than other Apple operating systems, allowing third-party stores or web downloads, Apple’s interest is in the App Store for Mac , where they charge a standard 30% fee for each transaction.
Historically, Apple has faced obstacles due to less powerful tools compared to Windows and a smaller user base. However, the growth in Mac sales over the last fifteen years, the introduction of Apple Silicon, and the ease of importing games into macOS could be determining factors in changing the situation, despite the lack of modularity and expandability of Mac. the Macs
Kojima’s presence at WWDC indicates a medium-term interest in this area. Apple doesn’t expect full and mass adoption of the Mac as a gaming platform, both by users and developers, but if a significant percentage adopts this change, it will be more than enough to consider it a success. As Apple continues to improve its computers, which are now quieter, more energy efficient and more powerful, it is expected that more developers and users will join this evolution.
Although the path to success will not be easy, Apple has shown its commitment by bringing the Mac to the world of video games. With VisionPro such as product highlights and advances in gaming performance are sending a clear message that the Mac can be an attractive platform for gamers.
The participation of Kojima, a renowned game developer, at WWDC also raises expectations for future collaborations and exciting projects. While it’s unlikely that all gamers and developers will completely abandon other platforms in favor of the Mac, even a sizable percentage that embrace this change will be a significant achievement for Apple.
Apple has been working hard to overcome the perception that the Mac is not suitable for gaming. With the announcement of Vision Pro, performance improvements, and growth in Mac sales, they’re in a stronger position than ever. Although the challenge is considerable, with developer support and a growing user base, Apple is well positioned to achieve its goal of making the Mac a relevant platform in the world of gaming.
Source and photos:
https://news.eseuro.com/technology/1829573.html
Loading...
