Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ event, scheduled for Monday, October 30, has generated intense speculation, and it may have grander ambitions than initially thought. While the tech world eagerly anticipates the unveiling of new iMacs and MacBooks, a fresh rumor suggests that this event could mark a significant shift towards gaming, all thanks to the new M3 chip.
This represents a notable departure for Apple, a company primarily associated with mobile gaming through its iPhones and iPads, but not renowned for producing gaming-focused products akin to traditional consoles.
Hints have been scattered around, sparking intrigue about potentially exciting gaming-related Mac offerings at the ‘Scary Fast’ event. During the recent launch of the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple made headlines by highlighting the A17 chip’s capabilities. Not only can it handle graphically-demanding games like Resident Evil 4 Remake, but it also boasts hardware-accelerated ray tracing. This advanced technology is used to create immersive lighting, reflections, and shadows, commonly found in high-quality PC and console games.
Considering that Apple integrated ray tracing support into the mobile A17 chip, it’s plausible that the rumored M3 chip for Macs and MacBooks will follow suit. This development could give the M3 chip a substantial performance boost, potentially transforming any Mac or MacBook powered by it into a formidable gaming machine.
Gaming on Macs has faced challenges due to the relative scarcity of games available compared to Windows 11. This scenario has created a cycle where game developers hesitate to port their titles to Mac, as few gamers purchase Macs for gaming, and few gamers opt for Macs due to the limited game library.
However, Apple’s VP, Tim Millet, indicated a change on the horizon. He stated that “developers are going to work with us” to bring major games showcased for the iPhone 15 Pro to Macs equipped with Apple silicon, encompassing the M1, M2, and the anticipated M3.
These games include the much-anticipated Resident Evil 4 Remake, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage – all well-known titles in the PC and console gaming world.
Adding to the intrigue, gaming giant Capcom announced that Resident Evil Village is set to land on the iPhone 15 Pro and M1-powered iPads on the same date as Apple’s event, October 30.
Curiously, another major player in the gaming industry, Sony, plans to launch cloud streaming for PS5 games on October 30. While this is currently restricted to PS5 consoles, it presents an interesting coincidence with Apple’s event.
Moreover, the timing of the ‘Scary Fast’ event, scheduled at 5 pm PT, is unusual for Apple, known for holding events earlier in the day to cater to various time zones. Speculation arises that this timing may facilitate the participation of a significant Japanese game developer. Both Capcom and Sony are Japanese companies, as is Kojima Productions, led by gaming icon Hideo Kojima, the creator of Death Stranding.
Apple has been increasingly courting the gaming community, evident in macOS Sonoma’s Game Mode, designed to enhance gaming performance and controller compatibility. The Game Porting Toolkit simplifies the process of making games compatible with macOS.
As the ‘Scary Fast’ event looms, the question arises: Could Apple be gearing up to introduce M3-powered gaming devices capable of rivaling the PS5 and Xbox Series X? Perhaps a MacBook could emerge as a standout gaming laptop? While there’s some skepticism, the accumulation of hints and rumors has ignited excitement. If Apple reveals new M3 chips and hardware, the gaming world might witness exciting announcements. The days of Mac gaming being a punchline could be numbered.
