Why Steam Deck Excels at Windows Game Translation While Apple Mac Struggles
The Steam Deck, based on Linux, uses compatibility layers to run Windows games with minimal performance loss. In contrast, Macs have historically struggled with gaming despite improvements in hardware and software.
The Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld gaming PC, has garnered attention for its ability to smoothly run Windows games despite using Linux under the hood. This is largely thanks to compatibility layers like Proton, a fork of Wine, that translate Windows APIs and calls to their Linux equivalents. Valve, in collaboration with developers like Codeweavers, has heavily invested in refining Proton to minimize performance overhead and expand game compatibility.
On the other hand, Apple’s Mac computers have notoriously lagged behind in gaming capabilities. This discrepancy stems from several key factors:
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Different architectures: Macs have transitioned to ARM-based Apple Silicon chips which use a different instruction set than the x86-64 processors found in most PCs and the Steam Deck. This necessitates an additional translation layer like Rosetta 2.
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Graphics APIs: Windows games are primarily built on Microsoft’s DirectX, while Mac relies on its Metal graphics framework. Converting between the two introduces overhead and potential incompatibilities.
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Market share and user base: Windows PCs command the lion’s share of the desktop market. Additionally, the subset of Mac users who are avid gamers is relatively small, providing less incentive for developers to invest in native ports.
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Gaming focus: The Steam Deck is purpose-built for gaming, with Valve pouring resources into compatibility. Apple has historically prioritized creative professionals and treated gaming as a secondary concern.
However, the narrative is starting to shift. Recent Macs with powerful Apple Silicon chips can run many demanding games smoothly through translation layers. Apple has also introduced initiatives like the Metal-optimized Game Porting Toolkit to help developers bring Windows titles to the Mac with less effort.
iOS and iPadOS already have a thriving mobile gaming ecosystem that eclipses dedicated handheld consoles. As Apple further blurs the line between its platforms, it’s likely Macs will increasingly benefit from this momentum.
While the Mac gaming landscape still trails Windows PCs and the Steam Deck, the situation is not as dire as it once was. With continued investment from Apple and more developers eyeing the Mac’s growing user base, the platform’s gaming future looks increasingly bright. The onus is now on Apple to stay the course and prove it takes gaming seriously across all its devices.