Publishing games for M1 / M2 Mac with ARM CPU

[Arg0n]

Apple released it's first M1 Mac with a new ARM CPU one year ago. Now there are two different CPU architectures for MacOS games. It is currently not possible to differentiate between these two. So players will always need to run games on ARM MacOS with Apples half baked Rosetta layer. This results in confused players and unfixable bugs.

Please add a possebility to select the CPU architecture for MacOS when uploading games to Steam.

[blunus]

Talk to the game developers as they are the ones supporting M1/M2 Mac for their games.

[Arg0n]

I've talked to the "game developers" and it's just not possible to upload two different compiled versions of a game on MacOS.

See: https://imgur.com/a/LnNIaFM
Source: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/sdk/uploading

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Arg0n:

I've talked to the "game developers" and it's just not possible to upload two different compiled versions of a game on MacOS.

See: https://imgur.com/a/LnNIaFM
Source: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/sdk/uploading

Apple is going to kill steam once they remove Rosetta2. They're amking MacOS into iOS walled garden.

[Cathulhu]

Considering that only 2.37% of Steam users use Mac OS, i doubt it would hurt Steam much if it is no longer available on Mac OS devices.

[Arg0n]

The distribution for ARM vs Intel on MacOS Steam is 50/50

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/processormfg/

Originally posted by Satoru:

Apple is going to kill steam once they remove Rosetta2. They're amking MacOS into iOS walled garden.

Is this an assumption or do you have a source for this?

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Originally posted by Arg0n:

The distribution for ARM vs Intel on MacOS Steam is 50/50

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/processormfg/

Originally posted by Satoru:

Apple is going to kill steam once they remove Rosetta2. They're amking MacOS into iOS walled garden.

Is this an assumption or do you have a source for this?

It sure looks that way to me.

[Cathulhu]

As if Steam would die if Mac users could no longer use it.

[Mad Scientist]

Apples own decisions recently, make it highly unwise to even bother with any form of export or support as the compatibility could be programmed out intentionally, similar to the 32-bit decision.

Most Developers wont want to even consider it, just as most enthusiast hardware manufacturers learned the hard way that it's best not to as well.

[Arg0n]

The post isn't called: "Please remove MacOS support from Steam"... please stay on topic

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Arg0n:

Please add a possebility to select the CPU architecture for MacOS when uploading games to Steam.

Like that helped at all with the drop of 32-bit?

Just a literal check mark and quite a few developers still didn't do it.

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamworks/announcements/detail/3632639303428097613

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by Arg0n:

The post isn't called: "Please remove MacOS support from Steam"... please stay on topic

Valve doesn't make other Developers games, so suggesting publishing games for M1/M2 has no relevance to the section.

The correct thing to do is ask on an individual basis or give feedback to a Developer, which some have as you've participated in;
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1162750/discussions/1/3766734182331879172

Though as stated, it's extremely unlikely and often the cost extremely outweighs any potential income from it.

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/135507548120407092/

[Crazy Tiger]

It would be better if more options were there in that regard, yes.

Originally posted by Mad Scientist:

Originally posted by Arg0n:

The post isn't called: "Please remove MacOS support from Steam"... please stay on topic

Valve doesn't make other Developers games, so suggesting publishing games for M1/M2 has no relevance to the section.

That's not what OP is asking for, though. OP is asking for a field so that developers can better distinguish what kind of version they're uploading. Which is in Steamworks and thus something Valve would have to provide.

The screenshot in post #2 is quite clear on that.

[Arg0n]

It's quite easy for us to compile a game for ARM MacOS, but there's no way to distribute it through Steam, because there's no option for it.
We are currently trying to distribute a Java JRE compiled for ARM with a game and there's no way to do it.

DISCLAIMER: I'm just a modder trying to help a game developer fixing bugs and making some improvements for his game.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

That's not what OP is asking for, though. OP is asking for a field so that developers can better distinguish what kind of version they're uploading. Which is in Steamworks and thus something Valve would have to provide.

It would be in better interest to axe it entirely due to the string of decisions resulting from intentional decisions. They can otherwise, note if their game can run on one or the other but it would be best to note there are no guarantees further updates will have compatibility as a disclaimer.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by nullable:

Create a separate store page and a separate product.

"Game Name: MacOS ARM edition". Have your store pages link to each other. "Mac ARM users go here for the ARM version" on the x86 store page.

"Mac Intel users go here for the Intel version", on the ARM page.

My guess is a workaround is going to be your best and most realistic solution.

That would be a more realistic approach. Would cost per listing but if they believe it would be profitable, they may do so and it would clearly be labeled. Wouldn't be the first time a creator named something for a specific OS or version.