Steam Adds Native Apple Silicon Support for Macs
▼ Summary
– Steam will soon natively support Macs with Apple’s M-series chips, eliminating the need for Rosetta 2 emulation.
– Native Apple Silicon support is expected to improve Steam’s performance on M-series Macs.
– Apple will stop major updates for Intel-based Macs after macOS Tahoe and limit Rosetta 2 availability to macOS 27.
– Apple plans to retain limited Rosetta 2 functionality for older, unmaintained Intel-based games.
– Users can access the Steam beta by enabling “Steam Beta Update” in the app’s settings under “Client Beta Participation.”
Valve has introduced native Apple Silicon support for Steam, marking a significant upgrade for Mac users with M-series chips. The latest beta version of the Steam client eliminates the need for Rosetta 2 emulation, promising smoother performance and better efficiency on Apple’s ARM-based hardware.
Previously, Steam relied on Rosetta 2 to translate Intel-based code for compatibility with Apple Silicon processors. While functional, this workaround introduced minor performance overhead. With native support now in testing, users can expect faster load times and improved stability when launching games or managing their libraries.
This move aligns with Apple’s broader transition away from Intel architecture. The company has confirmed that future macOS updates will prioritize Apple Silicon, with Rosetta 2 support eventually being phased out. Though limited emulation will remain for legacy gaming titles, developers are increasingly optimizing their software for ARM-based systems.
To access the beta, Mac users can navigate to Steam > Settings > Interface and select “Steam Beta Update” under the Client Beta Participation section. A quick restart applies the changes, enabling native performance for M1, M2, and newer chips. While still in testing, this update signals Valve’s commitment to keeping pace with Apple’s evolving hardware ecosystem.
For gamers invested in the Mac platform, native support removes a longstanding bottleneck, potentially opening doors to better optimization from developers. As more studios embrace ARM architecture, performance gains could extend beyond launcher efficiency to in-game experiences. The beta provides an early glimpse at these improvements ahead of a wider public release.
(Source: The Verge)
