I Played Cyberpunk 2077 on an $8,000 Mac Studio – and It Surprised Me

The Rise of Mac Gaming: A New Era for PC Gamers

Windows 11 has long been the go-to operating system for PC gamers, but recent developments suggest that this dominance might be under threat. As more games are being natively ported to platforms like Linux and macOS, the gaming landscape is evolving. One notable example is the recent release of Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs. After a rocky start on PCs and consoles in 2020, it has become one of my favorite games of all time, and I’m excited that Mac users, including those with the new Nintendo Switch 2, can now experience this game.

Cyberpunk 2077’s arrival on Macs is particularly exciting because, despite my early memories of playing Lemmings on a Macintosh, gaming on Macs hasn’t taken off as much as it could. Only a fraction of PC games have been ported to macOS, which has left PC gamers with limited options. For those who prefer not to use Microsoft products, this was less than ideal. With the rise of gaming-focused Linux distributions like SteamOS and high-profile games making their way to Macs, it seems like a new chapter for PC gamers looking for alternatives to Windows is beginning.

The Power of Modern Macs

Modern Macs don’t have traditional dedicated GPUs; instead, they use Apple’s M-class chips that combine the CPU and GPU into a single system-on-chip (SoC). This design allows for shared memory and efficient performance, but it differs significantly from traditional gaming PCs and laptops. The conventional belief has been that for graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, you need a system with a dedicated GPU like the Nvidia RTX 5080. However, with Cyberpunk 2077 now available on Macs with integrated graphics, it's an exciting moment for PC gamers. It suggests that you don't necessarily need a discrete GPU to play modern AAA games and that macOS could become a viable alternative to Windows 11 for gaming.

Testing the Waters: Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs

Cyberpunk 2077 is available on the Mac through Apple’s App Store, as well as on platforms like Steam and GOG. If you’ve already purchased it for PC, you can install it on your Mac without repurchasing it. I was able to download it onto my Macs via GOG Galaxy without having to rebuy it, and it allowed me to continue my playthrough from where I’d left off on PC thanks to cloud saves and cross progression.

I tested the game on the Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra), one of the most powerful Macs Apple has ever made. Despite its impressive specs, it’s not a gaming device, and I found that running Cyberpunk 2077 on it was a bit of a mistake. The “For this Mac” preset, which is designed to optimize performance and graphics, set the resolution at 2560 x 1440 and turned off ray tracing. While it maintained a smooth 60fps, the visual quality wasn’t as good as on my gaming PC with an Nvidia RTX 5090.

After tweaking the settings, I managed to improve the visual quality while keeping framerates playable. Using AMD FSR 3.1 Frame Generation and adjusting MetalFX settings helped increase the frame rate, but even then, the performance wasn’t as strong as on a dedicated gaming rig.

The MacBook Air Experience

I also tested Cyberpunk 2077 on a 15-inch MacBook Air (M4), a more mainstream and affordable option. Despite its lower performance compared to the Mac Studio, the MacBook Air impressed me with its solid out-of-the-box performance. Running the game at 30fps with the default “For this Mac” preset, it handled the game well, especially considering it doesn’t have a dedicated GPU.

The MacBook Air’s fanless design and quiet operation were a big contrast to most gaming laptops, which tend to be bulky and noisy. The game’s performance on the MacBook Air was surprisingly good, and after some tweaks, I was able to push it beyond 60fps using AMD FSR 3.1.

Unique Features of Mac Gaming

There were three surprising things that stood out during my gameplay on the Mac:

1. Spatial Audio: Cyberpunk 2077 on Mac supports spatial audio via Apple’s AirPods. The experience was immersive, with sounds coming from all around, thanks to head tracking. While it’s limited to Apple’s headphones, it could become a significant selling point for gaming on Macs.

2. ‘For this Mac’ Presets: These presets offer a tailored gaming experience for non-technical users, allowing them to start playing without any adjustments. While the settings were a bit cautious, they provided a good starting point for further customization.

3. Cross-Platform Saves: The ability to continue progress across different platforms, such as switching from a PC to a Mac, makes Macs a viable backup for gamers on the go. This feature could encourage more people to try gaming on Macs.

Conclusion

While Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t mean gamers should throw out their graphics cards or abandon Windows 11, it does signal an exciting future for gaming on Macs. As more games become available on macOS and hardware continues to evolve, the gap between Mac and PC gaming may narrow. For now, it’s clear that Macs are no longer just productivity tools—they’re becoming serious contenders in the gaming world.