This has also made them popular among creatives, including game developers. Undoubtedly, they are also considered to have some high-end products that users enjoy and love because of their durability.
The History of Apple and Gaming
To understand if Apple is pushing game developers to perform better, let’s dive into the history of Apple and gaming. When Douglas Englebart created the mouse in 1984, it was paired with Apple, which quickly mainstreamed it and made it a thing for desktop computers. Okay, now a look at gaming.
Video games have been around for decades, even before the mouse. The mouse revolutionized how games could be controlled. Thanks to the Macintosh and the introduction of the mouse to personal computers, this is a clear story that links modern PC gaming to the Macintosh. The sad story is that although the link is clear, game developers have always been handicapped by the Mac hardware dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s.
Apple computers struggled to keep up with the growing demand from game developers who made more advanced and detailed 3D games. Apple competed with the PC after game developers opted to create graphic cards and games for other Intel PCs that seemed to perform faster than the Mac. Game developers favored PCs as the graphics were good enough even to play live casino.
Mac also struggled as GPUs became a major component of 3D games. Mac’s support for third-party GPUs was weak even around 2020.
Fast-forward to 2023, and Apple renews its interest in gaming on the Macintosh after 25 years. Keppel, Apple’s product manager, mentions that Apple silicon will be the game changer. He also says every Mac that will have Apple silicon will be able to handle AAA games. He says the M1, M2, and M3 have boosted graphics chips.
This has proven to be true, as Apple silicon is an excellent system for Macs. Apple’s upgrade to the GPUs on its Apple silicon is impressive. The Apple silicon supports hardware mesh shading and accelerated ray tracing, features that were just a dream a few years ago.
Leland Martin, an Apple software marketing manager, also mentioned that the magic of Apple silicon isn’t just in its performance. The problems with Apple have always been with hardware. Martin mentioned that this has all changed with the new Apple silicon that boasts a unified hardware platform that makes it easier for developers to create Mac games that can also be run on other Apple devices.
Ante Up for Apple With Silicone
Apple is making bold moves to transform the Mac with its Apple Silicone. Mac is looking to transform into an amazing gaming platform. Mac has had a complicated relationship with gaming in the past with hardware limitations. Apple silicone will uncomplicate this relationship with its M3 family of chips.
The M3 family of chips brings features such as hardware acceleration. These advancements are about enhancing the gaming experience by setting new benchmarks that will keep pace. Martin mentions that a few years ago, there was a mix of both discrete and integrated GPUs. Martin further mentions that this resulted in many complexities when it came to game development.
Apple Silicon is the solution that will create unified gaming across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple is seeking to redefine gaming on a Mac. The company also understands that the gaming industry is rapidly evolving. The growing Apple Silicon install base has the potential to grow for developers and users alike.
Doug Brook, another member of the product marketing team for Mac, mentions that gaming was a fundamental part of the Apple silicon design. As Apple continues to develop their gaming abilities the industry is watching closely. The transformation into a gaming platform is still a work in its early stages. Apple will likely catch up with game developers soon and gain relevance in the gaming space.
So What’s the Deal?
Since the spanner is in the works, game developers still opt to go with more well-developed preferences. At the moment, it’s still hard to determine whether they prefer developing on Mac or PC.
Generally, most developers prefer PCs due to their flexibility in terms of hardware and software choices. This gives them more flexibility regarding a wide range of development platforms and tools. As Apple Silicone also makes its way into the industry, most developers will be forced to try out this new technology as they seek to enter the industry for Apple users.
