At this year’s WWDC, Apple announced Metal 4, introducing advanced graphics features such as frame interpolation and ray reconstruction denoising, coinciding with the announcement of Cyberpunk 2077 coming to Mac. These advancements signal a move toward standardizing modern graphics technologies across platforms. The discussion addresses whether Digital Foundry (DF) will test the Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077, similar to their coverage of the Switch 2 version, and possibly Remedy’s Control. However, current hardware limitations present challenges, as many of these advanced features require the newer M3 and M4 Apple chips, which are not yet widely available.
Oliver, a key figure in Mac hardware coverage, explains that while he owns high-end Macs with M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips, these are not fully capable of supporting the latest graphics technologies like mesh shading or hardware ray tracing. Although he is open to upgrading in the future, his current machines are well-suited for video editing but less optimal for gaming. He also highlights the high cost of Apple hardware compared to PCs and consoles, making it harder to stay current with the latest gaming tech on Macs. Nonetheless, Apple devices tend to have greater longevity, especially for non-gaming tasks, which is a significant factor for many users.
The conversation emphasizes Apple’s push toward cutting-edge graphics technologies, such as their own ML-based upscaler and denoising techniques, which often lead or match features found on other platforms like Sony, Microsoft, and AMD. Despite gaming not being a primary driver for Apple hardware sales, the company appears committed to advancing graphics capabilities on Macs. There’s curiosity about how closely the Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077 will replicate the PC’s ray tracing features or if Apple will implement a custom approach tailored to its hardware.
Looking ahead, Apple’s investment in these technologies might be driven by broader ambitions beyond traditional gaming. The discussion speculates that Apple is preparing for a future with increased virtual worlds, metaverse applications, and extended reality experiences, such as those enabled by the Apple Vision Pro. These scenarios require real-time world generation and advanced graphics processing, aligning with Apple’s development of a robust technology stack to support immersive environments and interactive content.
Finally, the speakers consider the gaming market opportunity for Apple, noting that while the company currently dominates mobile gaming through iPhone and iOS, its presence in dedicated gaming hardware is limited. The idea of repurposing devices like the Mac Mini as a gaming console is floated as a possibility. Although gaming may not be a high-margin focus for Apple compared to phones or Macs, the ongoing research and development in graphics tech could pave the way for more significant gaming initiatives in the future, potentially leveraging Apple’s cutting-edge processors and ecosystem strengths.
