The thing is, if you get a game on Steam you have the potential to use multiple platforms if things change later (as a plausible example, when you only have Macs but decide to get a Steam Deck). If you get a game on the app store you're stuck to playing it on your Macs. Until Apple breaks compatibility.
Usually the people who hold my view are into games as their main entertainment, have multiple gaming options and possibly have finished those acclaimed ports that Apple is now releasing years ago on launch (Death Stranding? In 2023-2024? So funny, I finished that on my PS4 in 2019.)
If you want to dip your toes into the water, by all means, get games on the app store. You just may regret it later.
Very funny! But the world knows a PC is a much better gaming platform than a Mac, and has been that way for decades. So you just proved my point. Any other platform is better to buy/play games on than the Mac.
I don’t think you proved anything because there was no point to prove. You tried to say native Mac ports are unnecessary because people can play Xbox/PS/Windows games through streaming but that can be said in the same way about Windows games. In other words why make Windows games when people can play the same Xbox/PS games through streaming?
I can’t see anyone here claiming Mac is the best gaming platform so you just tried to make a point of something obvious. The problem is that you question the Mac games’ right to exist based on your preferences. You’re saying because some people like yourself play their games on other favorite platforms in certain ways everybody should do the same.
Cloud gaming and streaming services like GFN and Xbox are not available in every country. Neither do people have fast internet connection or Wi-Fi everywhere. On GFN for example not only you have to buy and own the games you have to pay subscription fee too. You can only play at 1080p with Basic or Priority so you have to buy the Ultimate for higher resolutions. It certainly can get more expensive than a native port.
Not every game can be found either on such services. RE 4, RE Village, Lies of P, Stray, Riven, Myst, Firmament, Grid Legends, Total War: Pharaoh, X-plane 12 and others have native Mac ports but are missing on GFN. Games are also regularly removed from Cloud gaming libraries to make place for new ones so you never can be sure.
It’s also remarkable that you compare the performance of cloud gaming to native games played locally. Even the best services can have performance issues for many people. PS Remote Play is like Steam Remote Play. You still have to use two devices for streaming and playing so it’s kind of pointless. You can as well play on your PS instead of streaming it to your Mac. You are also bound to one location and can’t play when you’re not home.
I’ve never understood the logic behind people being negative against Mac gaming, ”old” games and games being released on other platforms than their favorite. It’s very simple. Games get released for Mac. If you have played them you should not care and move on with your life. If you haven’t you get happy and get them wherever available. If they’re only on Mac App Store and you don’t want to wait you get them there. Simple logic!
So what’s up with this attitude about ”old pointless games” and ”bad Apple”? Many call themselves gamers but you’re not a gamer just because you’ve played all the latest games or own all the different gaming HW and streaming services. True gaming apostles embrace more options, availability and freedom of choice for all gamers instead of showing negativity or hostility against other platforms and preaching about one true gaming god.
Yes, you have Steam Play on Steam but that wasn’t even the discussion here. I myself have almost all of my games on Steam despite the fact that I’ve never had a gaming PC, Steam Deck, console or streaming service. I only play games on my Mac and done so since the ’90s. I prefer Steam because I also use Crossover, again on my Macs and the games are often cheaper there. On the other hand on App Store you have universal purchase where you can pay once and play on Mac, iPad and iPhone, something that’s not possible on Steam (I’m not talking about Steam Remote Play).
So when I decide to purchase RE Village, Re 4, Re 7, Re 2, Death Stranding, Control UE, Sniper Elite 4, Robocop: Rogue City, AC Shadows or Prince of Persia: Lost Crown I will do that on MAS because that’s were they are. If they come to Steam by the time like Lies of P I will buy them there because Steam has very fast download speed. It’s your desire and timing that decides. With every native port there’s one less game I need to use Crossover for.
The opinion about ”old Mac games” simply doesn’t make any sense either. It’s not the age of the games that decides if they're good, it’s their quality. With that logic we should boycott all movies older than three years that we haven’t watched yet, especially the classics. Forget about those old junks like Godfather, Alien, Terminator and Lord of the Rings. I guess we should also stop eating all kinds of food since the recipes are hundreds or thousands of years old. Forget pizza and pasta! Insects are the latest and greatest.
The majority of computer users or Mac users don’t live for gaming either. Hardcore gamers are a minority. Most gamers are
casual gamers who don’t need or want to spend too much time and money on different gaming HW/SW. You still need to own your games with services like GFN and the subscription costs can get high too if you use Xbox, Playstation and GFN. So when a native port is available it’s a better choice for casual gamers.
What many hardcore PC/Console gamers don’t understand is that Apple’s push for gaming is not directed at them, but at their existing customers, to improve the gaming situation on Mac, iPad and iPhone with native ports and at at the same time show developers there is money to be made. Developers are also the ones who know their market best and can decide if it’s worth to make a Mac port. Obviously they believe so in all these cases because nobody likes to loose money. Remember that next time before you say ”Who’s going to play these old games?”. People don’t buy Macs for gaming but Mac users like to game too and always welcome native ports.
