Apple has just revealed that they will be hosting an online event on Monday, October 30 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. It seems highly likely that this event will have a special focus on gaming on the Mac.
Let’s take a look at some recent gaming-related developments from Apple and other hints that suggest gaming will have a prominent role in the upcoming event:
Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing
Apple silicon chips, like the A17 Pro chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro, are known for their architectural similarities. It is highly likely that Apple’s upcoming M3 series of chips for Macs will also feature hardware-accelerated ray tracing. This technology will greatly enhance graphics rendering on the Mac by providing a dedicated hardware solution instead of relying on software alone. Additionally, the M3 series chips are expected to be manufactured with TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, which will result in faster performance and improved power efficiency compared to the previous M2 series chips. These advancements pave the way for more high-quality games to be released on the Mac platform.
Apple Opens Up to More AAA Games on Mac
In a recent interview with gaming publication IGN, Apple hinted at the possibility of more AAA games being made available on the Mac. When asked about the compatibility of the new games announced for the iPhone 15 Pro with Apple silicon Macs, Apple VP Tim Millet stated that “the developers are going to work with us to do it.” This suggests that popular games like the Resident Evil 4 remake, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage could potentially make their way to the Mac in the near future.
Clues from Capcom and Sony
Japanese game developer Capcom recently announced that Resident Evil Village will be released for the iPhone 15 Pro and for iPad models with the M1 chip or newer starting from October 30. Interestingly, this coincides with Apple’s own event happening on the same day. While this could be just a coincidence, it raises the possibility of Apple and Capcom making further gaming-related announcements together, along with other game developers. We have received insider information suggesting that Apple has scheduled its online event at 5 p.m. Pacific Time specifically to align with business hours in Japan. Furthermore, our source claims that the event will include a major collaboration with a prominent Japanese game developer. However, we have not been able to independently verify the accuracy of this information.
Although the App Store currently states that the Resident Evil 4 remake will launch on Macs with the M1 chip or newer on December 31, this date is likely just a placeholder. It is highly possible that the game’s release could be moved up following Apple’s event. It’s worth noting that the game has already been released for Windows PCs, the PS4/PS5, and the Xbox Series X/S back in March.
In a separate development, Sony has announced plans to launch cloud streaming for PS5 games in North America on October 30. Could this indicate a potential collaboration with Apple as well?
Introducing Game Mode
The new macOS Sonoma introduces an exciting feature known as Game Mode. This mode allows users to temporarily prioritize CPU and GPU performance specifically for gaming. Not only does Game Mode enhance graphics capabilities, but it also reduces audio latency for AirPods and minimizes input lag when using popular third-party game controllers. These optimizations contribute to an overall improved gaming experience on Macs.
Game Porting Toolkit
During the WWDC 2023 event held in June, Apple unveiled a new toolkit designed to streamline the process of porting Windows games to the Mac platform. This toolkit provides an emulation environment that enables game developers to quickly evaluate the performance of their existing Windows games on macOS without the need for extensive modifications or rewriting of code. This tool makes it easier than ever for developers to bring their games to the Mac audience.
