I Played Cyberpunk 2077 on an $8,000 Mac Studio – Mac Gaming Is No Longer a Joke

Galih Ratna Rakasiwi
Galih Ratna Rakasiwi
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The Rise of Macs in the Gaming World

Windows 11 has long been the go-to operating system for PC gamers, but this dominance may soon face challenges. More games are now being natively ported to platforms like Linux and macOS, with one notable example being the recent release of Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs. After a rocky start on PCs and consoles in 2020, the game has become one of my favorites, and it's great to see that users with compatible Macs, as well as new Nintendo Switch 2 owners, can now experience it.

Cyberpunk 2077’s arrival on Macs is particularly exciting because, historically, gaming on Macs hasn’t taken off as much as on Windows. Only a fraction of PC games have been ported to macOS, which forced many gamers to stick with Windows machines. For those who prefer not to use Microsoft, this was less than ideal.

With the rise of gaming-focused Linux distributions like SteamOS and high-profile games coming to Macs, it could be the beginning of an exciting new chapter for PC gamers looking for alternatives to Windows. Could we eventually see some of the best MacBooks included in our best gaming laptops buying guide?

Graphics and Performance on Modern Macs

One of the most impressive aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs is its ability to deliver high graphical fidelity without requiring a dedicated GPU. Modern Macs use Apple’s M-class chips, which combine the CPU and GPU into a single system-on-chip (SoC) with shared memory. This design differs from traditional gaming PCs, which have separate CPUs and GPUs with their own dedicated memory.

Conventional wisdom suggests that for a graphically demanding game like Cyberpunk 2077, you need a system with a dedicated GPU, such as an Nvidia RTX 5080. However, with Cyberpunk 2077 now available on Macs with integrated graphics, it raises the question: do you really need a discrete GPU to play modern AAA games? Could macOS become a viable alternative to Windows 11 for gaming?

Testing the Limits: From Mac Studio to MacBook Air

I had the opportunity to test Cyberpunk 2077 on two different Macs: the Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) and the 15-inch MacBook Air (M4). The Mac Studio is one of the most powerful Macs Apple has ever made, featuring a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, and 256GB of unified memory. While it’s not a gaming device, I was curious about its performance with Cyberpunk 2077.

Using the “For this Mac” preset, which automatically adjusts settings for optimal performance, the game ran at 60fps, but the visual quality wasn’t as good as on my gaming PC. After tweaking the settings, I managed to push the frame rate up to around 60fps while maintaining decent visuals. However, even with these adjustments, the Mac Studio still couldn’t match the performance of a high-end PC with an Nvidia RTX 5090.

On the other hand, the MacBook Air, which is more affordable and mainstream, delivered surprisingly solid performance. With the default “For this Mac” preset, the game ran smoothly at 30fps, which is playable, especially considering the lack of a discrete GPU. Further tweaking allowed me to push the frame rate above 60fps, making it a viable option for casual gaming.

Key Features That Stand Out

There were three surprising features that really stood out while playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the Mac:

  1. Spatial Audio: The game supports spatial audio via Apple’s AirPods, which delivers an immersive audio experience. The head tracking feature enhances the realism of the sounds, making the game world feel more alive. While limited to Apple’s headphones, this feature could become a selling point for future Mac gaming.

  2. ‘For this Mac’ Presets: These presets offer a great starting point for non-technical users, allowing them to enjoy the game without needing to tweak settings. However, they can be a bit conservative, and more advanced users might want to adjust them for better performance.

  3. Cross-Platform Saves: The Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077 is available on Steam and GOG, and players who already own the PC version can install it on their Mac without repurchasing. Cross-platform progression also allows players to continue from where they left off, making the Mac a convenient backup for gaming on the go.

Conclusion

While Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t mean gamers can abandon their graphics cards or switch entirely to macOS, it does offer a glimpse into the future of gaming on Macs. As more games make their way to macOS and hardware continues to improve, the gap between Windows and Mac gaming may narrow. For now, though, gaming PCs remain the best choice for the most demanding titles.