Nvidia
Nvidia released version 2.0.40 of its GeForce Now game-streaming app earlier this week, and its new features include built-in support for newer Apple Silicon Macs.
Like most Intel-only Mac apps, GeForce Now could run on Apple Silicon Macs using the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer. Nvidia says the addition of built-in support for Apple Silicon will reduce the app’s power consumption and boot time and lead to a “generally enhanced experience”, although it does not specifically mention gameplay factors such as streaming quality or input latency.
Apple Silicon Macs from M1 to M1 Ultra all have reasonably powerful GPUs compared to similarly priced and specified PCs, but so far it has not led to an influx of AAA PC titles on the platform. This is partly because Windows has a higher consumption share than macOS and thus is a bigger target for game developers. And on the software side, Apple is focusing its energy on its own proprietary Metal graphics API instead of supporting the open Vulcan API or modern versions of OpenGL.
We tested the GeForce Now’s RTX 3080 performance back in October and were generally impressed with its latency and graphical fidelity. It’s no substitute for having a powerful gaming PC on your desktop, but if you have not been able to find a GPU, or if you are using a Mac that can no longer boot into Windows because it uses an ARM chip, it is a respectable alternative.
As long as you own the games you want to play, a free GeForce Now membership will give you access to the GTX 1060 Class’s performance for up to an hour of gaming sessions. Higher performance, longer gaming sessions and RTX-class beam tracking features require paid subscriptions, starting at $ 9.99 per share. month or $ 49.99 for six months.
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