why is steam worse on mac then on windows

[rai]

I'm curious, i don't know much about computers but I can tell that my games run better on my pc compared to my mac. and my mac is also more expensive. why is this?

[intense moto]

I would say it's the way mac functions. I use my mac only to browse steam and message while i have steam running a game on my pc. i want to install a game and try it on my mac but the games i play don't show mac support.

[cocanard]

1. Macs represent a small percentage of the pc users, especially when it comes to gaming, so game developers will put more efforts on windows
2. To use the best performance of the machine, you need to use metal for graphics, using another graphic API can work but does not unlock full performances of your mac
3. In term of hardware, apple wasn't the best in term of graphics and cpu, now there are apple silicon processors (end of 2020) but this require optimizations to make apps run at the best performances on these processors

All of that make a mac port not worthing it (or at least not as windows), so when you do a mac port, it can be "poor" compared to the pc version as it does not use the full power of the machine

It's the same for the steam client :Steam run quite poorly on mac (like a 10 years old cpu runs it better then an actual mac) as macs represent only 2.5% of their market share (steam survey)

[lix]

Originally posted by cocanard:

1. Macs represent a small percentage of the pc users, especially when it comes to gaming, so game developers will put more efforts on windows
2. To use the best performance of the machine, you need to use metal for graphics, using another graphic API can work but does not unlock full performances of your mac
3. In term of hardware, apple wasn't the best in term of graphics and cpu, now there are apple silicon processors (end of 2020) but this require optimizations to make apps run at the best performances on these processors

All of that make a mac port not worthing it (or at least not as windows), so when you do a mac port, it can be "poor" compared to the pc version as it does not use the full power of the machine

It's the same for the steam client :Steam run quite poorly on mac (like a 10 years old cpu runs it better then an actual mac) as macs represent only 2.5% of their market share (steam survey)

[DONi]

Don't buy MAC for anything, just burn your current one and be done with it

[guy.away]

How incredibly unhelpful!

[RogueBolt]

Originally posted by mirai:

I'm curious, i don't know much about computers but I can tell that my games run better on my pc compared to my mac. and my mac is also more expensive. why is this?

Apple Computer SUCK

[Enu]

It's not native to Apple Silicon. Therefore the performance is worse.

[CJM]

Originally posted by mirai:

I'm curious, i don't know much about computers but I can tell that my games run better on my pc compared to my mac. and my mac is also more expensive. why is this?

Not knowing what Mac you are talking about, PCs are more likely to have a dedicated graphics card at their disposal than most Macs. The iMac's dedicated graphics is often lower performing than the most recent flagship GPU from Nvidia or AMD. Which leaves the Mac Pro as the closest to a gaming machine, and that thing is intended to compete with pro hardware that typically costs as much as an automobile.

The Apple Silicon like the M1 chips hold promise for changing the situation if there is enough interest in a Mac Mini entertainment center to replace an XBox Series X.

Apple seems a bit snobby about games as well. The iPad and AppleTV are its "gaming" platforms. Video games are cartoons for children. The "Elite" are more sophisticated and more productive, or at least that is the "fashion" of the brand, barring the Bungie Halo launch fiasco.

So, PCs provide better performance for gaming. Gaming is a fickle industry, with rapidly evolving performance requirements. The goal is to get as much bang for buck for your upgrade cycle. DIY tech types typically have a gaming device in addition to their Apple device, and thus a large portion of PC gamers do not add any profitability to Apple's gaming market.

Low demand, low market pressure, and branding issues.

[Scott, President of Dominos]

Valve is likely gonna drop Mac support in the future, they're only maintaining basic support until they completely pull the plug.

[Lugee]

Originally posted by CJM:

Originally posted by mirai:

I'm curious, i don't know much about computers but I can tell that my games run better on my pc compared to my mac. and my mac is also more expensive. why is this?

Not knowing what Mac you are talking about, PCs are more likely to have a dedicated graphics card at their disposal than most Macs. The iMac's dedicated graphics is often lower performing than the most recent flagship GPU from Nvidia or AMD. Which leaves the Mac Pro as the closest to a gaming machine, and that thing is intended to compete with pro hardware that typically costs as much as an automobile.

The Apple Silicon like the M1 chips hold promise for changing the situation if there is enough interest in a Mac Mini entertainment center to replace an XBox Series X.

Apple seems a bit snobby about games as well. The iPad and AppleTV are its "gaming" platforms. Video games are cartoons for children. The "Elite" are more sophisticated and more productive, or at least that is the "fashion" of the brand, barring the Bungie Halo launch fiasco.

So, PCs provide better performance for gaming. Gaming is a fickle industry, with rapidly evolving performance requirements. The goal is to get as much bang for buck for your upgrade cycle. DIY tech types typically have a gaming device in addition to their Apple device, and thus a large portion of PC gamers do not add any profitability to Apple's gaming market.

Low demand, low market pressure, and branding issues.

Yes, I agree to most of this. Good answer.
Now and then Apple is going into gaming again (Apple Arcade service is it now),
because ports of games from PC will never work that good on Mac.
But hey… better Steam with some minor issues than no Steam on Mac ;-)

---

BTW: any Mac users interested in discussions about 32 Bit games which still work? Even on Silicon M1 and on newest macOS (Ventura) and marked as "not working" by Steam?

[bolounitlne]

Interesting. And you "know" this, because... ?

Originally posted by Makise Kurisu:

Valve is likely gonna drop Mac support in the future, they're only maintaining basic support until they completely pull the plug.

[Lugee]

Nevertheless some mac game ports shown here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWnZhl9_PRc

[Scott, President of Dominos]

Originally posted by bolounitlne:

Interesting. And you "know" this, because... ?

Originally posted by Makise Kurisu:

Valve is likely gonna drop Mac support in the future, they're only maintaining basic support until they completely pull the plug.

Look at their general attitude towards the Mac, they do the bare minimum while leaving many bugs and major issues unfixed. It's clear that Valve has no interest in continung to work on the Mac client. The Steam app doesn't even have the basic frameworks to run natively on ARM cpus.

So whenever Rosetta 2 support ends, Valve won't bring native M support to Mac, they'll just let it die. Linux is their baby, and they can't ignore Windows.

It just makes sense, and there are many rumors swirling about it.

[CJM]

Originally posted by Makise Kurisu:

It just makes sense, and there are many rumors swirling about it.

I disagree. If Apple and Valve had a closer relationship, then the Steam Deck might have been an Mac Silicon product. That actually makes more sense than Linux in the current market.

Neither Apple nor Valve really want that, though.

M1 is a disruptive technology at the right time. Apple is paying attention to the direction the market is moving. Alphabet (Google) has a lot of power to steer the market currently, blending Apple and Microsoft's playbooks to great success.

Valve's "Plan B" to Apple Silicon is Linux and Proton. More so the Plan A I suppose, Linux gives Valve more control, with the ability to shift with the market. It places Valve in a stronger position than being entirely dependent on Windows.

Microsoft's move to a cloud services platform is unsettling for its future. Their adoption of Chromium to power Microsoft Edge even more so. I am not convinced they are just luring Google into a sense of complacency.

Microsoft's current focus on Ubuntu over Windows RT suggests that it needs a "Plan B". Perhaps Valve and Microsoft have discussed this matter? Valve's Steam Deck implementation of Proton does have the potential to keep Microsoft in the discussion and have a continued relevance.

Apple plus Alphabet plus ARM, the "AAA" computing standard... Vs Microsoft, Intel and NVidia, make sure the PC meets the MINimum requirements. And the bridge between, Valve's Proton on Linux platform, with Framework and Raspberry Pi. Does VFR mean DIY? What is Dell's long term strategy? Dell could probably build ARM Linux devices just as easily as Windows... Maybe the future of gaming is about the Valve, AMD, Linux, User Experience (VALUE), and not gimmicks like Ray Tracing?

[Scott, President of Dominos]

Originally posted by CJM:

Originally posted by Makise Kurisu:

It just makes sense, and there are many rumors swirling about it.

I disagree. If Apple and Valve had a closer relationship, then the Steam Deck might have been an Mac Silicon product. That actually makes more sense than Linux in the current market.

Neither Apple nor Valve really want that, though.

M1 is a disruptive technology at the right time. Apple is paying attention to the direction the market is moving. Alphabet (Google) has a lot of power to steer the market currently, blending Apple and Microsoft's playbooks to great success.

Valve's "Plan B" to Apple Silicon is Linux and Proton. More so the Plan A I suppose, Linux gives Valve more control, with the ability to shift with the market. It places Valve in a stronger position than being entirely dependent on Windows.

Microsoft's move to a cloud services platform is unsettling for its future. Their adoption of Chromium to power Microsoft Edge even more so. I am not convinced they are just luring Google into a sense of complacency.

Microsoft's current focus on Ubuntu over Windows RT suggests that it needs a "Plan B". Perhaps Valve and Microsoft have discussed this matter? Valve's Steam Deck implementation of Proton does have the potential to keep Microsoft in the discussion and have a continued relevance.

Apple plus Alphabet plus ARM, the "AAA" computing standard... Vs Microsoft, Intel and NVidia, make sure the PC meets the MINimum requirements. And the bridge between, Valve's Proton on Linux platform, with Framework and Raspberry Pi. Does VFR mean DIY? What is Dell's long term strategy? Dell could probably build ARM Linux devices just as easily as Windows... Maybe the future of gaming is about the Valve, AMD, Linux, User Experience (VALUE), and not gimmicks like Ray Tracing?

Nothing you said refutes my point. It’s all speculative based on wishful thinking.