It came as a disappointing blow to Mac users when Blizzard unexpectedly announced that their highly anticipated game, Diablo IV, would not be playable on Apple computers. This departure from their usual practice of supporting different versions of macOS left many wondering how this could happen.
The primary reason behind this decision likely stems from the technological shift that Macs have undergone in recent years. With Apple’s transition away from Intel processors, a significant portion of the compatibility that facilitated game adaptation from PC was lost. It appears that Blizzard is not willing to invest the resources to create an adaptation almost from scratch, leaving us with little choice but to hope for alternative solutions.
macOS Sonoma to the rescue!
As you may already be aware, Apple’s highly anticipated WWDC 2023 event is currently taking place, showcasing the latest updates and features across their range of products. In the realm of Macs, we are now discovering the exciting offerings of macOS Sonoma, the upcoming operating system.
One notable revelation is that Apple has diligently worked to incorporate an entire layer of compatibility within this new OS, enabling PC games to run seamlessly as if they were native to the Mac platform. Among the games being tested by the community, it comes as no surprise that Diablo IV has been at the forefront. Impressively, it is running at the highest graphic quality and delivering astounding results, giving the impression that the build was specifically designed for macOS.
Displayed above are the initial test results showcasing the compatibility layer of macOS Sonoma, specifically on a Mac equipped with the powerful M2 Max processor. The performance is exceptional, with no compromise on visual quality and seamless, smooth gameplay. The level of detail exhibited in these tests instills great optimism regarding the remarkable potential of this compatibility layer.
More games tested with Sonoma
In addition to Diablo IV, another demanding PC title, Cyberpunk 2077, has also undergone testing with the Game Porting Toolkit and the results are equally impressive. Even on a MacBook Pro equipped with an M1 processor, the game runs exceptionally well, giving no indication that it was originally designed for PC.
This new layer of compatibility in macOS Sonoma marks a significant opportunity for Mac users. Publishers will no longer face hurdles in adapting or developing their games for Mac, allowing for simultaneous releases across different platforms. Diablo IV serves as a prime example of this possibility, and it won’t be long before it arrives on Mac computers.