The Apple M4 Max chip is making waves as a powerful successor to the M3 Max, showcasing substantial performance improvements throughout the M4 series. The most remarkable progress has been observed in the onboard GPUs, which have achieved an unprecedented leap in capability. However, gaming remains a challenge for Macs, with many AAA titles still missing from the platform, even in 2024. Despite this, Apple’s efforts to improve the gaming landscape for Mac users are evident, with tools like CodeWeavers’ Crossover and Apple’s GPT making some games playable, although at reduced performance levels.
A glimpse into the M4 Max’s gaming prowess reveals it can handle both native and non-native titles quite impressively. Resident Evil 4 Remake, a standout Mac conversion, showcases the M4 Max’s strength in a native setting, running smoothly at 48-60 FPS on a 4K high graphics preset. By activating MetalFX upscaling in Quality mode, gamers can achieve even smoother frame rates of 60-70 FPS, proving the chip’s capability in managing visually demanding games.
Turning our attention to the racing scene, GRID Legends stands out as one of the few native racing games on macOS that fully exploits the potential of the M4 Max. Delivering an incredible experience, it runs at 100 FPS at 4K with the highest settings, marking a 52% performance leap over its predecessor, the M3 Max.
Stepping into the realm of non-native gaming, Cyberpunk 2077 presents a fascinating case. Although not yet available natively on macOS, the game performs admirably on the M4 Max via the Crossover compatibility layer, translating DirectX 12 to Metal. Remarkably, the M4 Max manages to deliver a 55% increase in frame rates over previous generations, offering a playable experience with ray tracing enabled. This feat illustrates the chip’s capacity to handle demanding titles, setting high expectations for its official launch on Apple Silicon next year.
Lastly, Black Myth: Wukong, a visually demanding title, pushes the M4 Max to its limits. Running through Crossover with FSR 3 upscaling set to 65%, it achieves 45-55 FPS at 1440p medium settings. Although performance can dip during intense battles, the flexibility offered by the chip’s adaptability and translation layers showcases Apple Silicon’s formidable processing power. While a native port would undoubtedly offer better performance, the M4 Max’s ability to smoothly manage such complex games is a testament to its potential.
All in all, Apple’s M4 Max chip is a game-changer, hinting at a brighter future for Mac gaming. It’s clear that while hurdles remain, the strides being made in performance enhancements are leading the charge in bridging the gap between Mac and gaming excellence.
