Valve Updates Steam for Mac Chips Just as Apple Ditches Intel
▼ Summary
– The 2020 MacBook Air is praised as a great gaming laptop for running specific older games silently with excellent battery life, despite not being high-powered.
– Its performance is due to Apple’s shift from Intel chips to its own ARM-based M-series CPUs, starting in 2020.
– Apple introduced Rosetta 2 to translate x86 apps for ARM-based Macs, but announced it will phase out Rosetta support in two macOS generations.
– Valve released an ARM-native beta version of Steam for Apple Silicon after Apple’s Rosetta phase-out announcement, addressing compatibility concerns.
– The new Steam beta improves features like the Steam Overlay and game recording, though system audio recording remains problematic on Macs.
Gaming on Mac just got a major boost as Valve finally releases an Apple Silicon-native version of Steam, right as Apple prepares to phase out Rosetta compatibility. This update comes at a critical moment for Mac gamers who rely on Valve’s platform, ensuring their libraries remain accessible as Apple shifts away from Intel-based architecture.
For years, Mac users with M-series chips depended on Rosetta 2,m Apple’s translation layer, to run x86 applications like Steam. While functional, it wasn’t perfect. Now, with Apple confirming Rosetta’s eventual retirement, Valve has stepped up with a native ARM version of Steam, available in beta. The timing feels almost poetic, like a last-minute assignment submission before the deadline.
Switching to the beta is straightforward: navigate to Steam’s preferences, select Interface, and choose the beta option from the dropdown. Early tests show noticeable improvements, particularly with the Steam Overlay and game recording features, though system audio capture remains frustratingly elusive due to macOS restrictions.
The move highlights Valve’s commitment to niche audiences, even when the user base is minimal. Mac gamers represent a sliver of Steam’s overall market, and Apple Silicon users are an even smaller subset. Yet, the update ensures compatibility won’t vanish overnight. It’s a relief for those of us who enjoy gaming on Macs, despite the platform’s notorious limitations for high-performance titles.
While this won’t suddenly turn Macs into gaming powerhouses, it does future-proof Steam for Apple’s ARM transition. For fans of classic RPGs, indie titles, or lighter games, the update means fewer headaches down the road. Now, if only more developers would follow Valve’s lead and optimize their games for Apple’s chips, Mac gaming might finally shed its underdog status.
(Source: PC Gamer)
