Gaming on macOS still trails Windows in terms of library size, but Apple’s M4 Max is closing the gap on performance. With Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows now available as native macOS titles, we finally get a clear look at how Apple Silicon stacks up against mid-tier Windows gaming laptops.
M4 Max plays Cyberpunk natively with a big edge over emulation
When Cyberpunk 2077 launched natively on macOS, it brought an immediate and measurable performance leap. Compared to the emulated CrossOver version, the native build runs 68% faster across standard benchmarks like 1080p, QHD, and Ultra presets. Only 4K remains a stretch, although MetalFX upscaling improves it from 23.6 to 34.1 fps enough for some.
Ray tracing at Ultra settings in QHD still hits 37 fps, a solid result for any integrated GPU. And with Apple’s own frame generation tech coming soon, that number should climb even higher.
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows performance isn’t as strong
Assassin’s Creed Shadows puts heavier strain on the system. At Ultra High, it dips to around 30 fps regardless of whether you’re at 1080p or QHD. Switching to the High preset smooths things out considerably, reaching around 50 fps.
The narrow gap between 1080p and QHD suggests GPU limits more than CPU bottlenecks something consistent with AAA titles optimized for full GPU pipelines.
M4 Max matches RTX 5060 laptop GPUs in real-world tests
When compared directly to Windows machines, the M4 Max performs on par with laptops using the GeForce RTX 5060 with a 100W TGP. It even edges past lower-wattage variants and keeps pace with some RTX 5070 60W configurations, like the one found in Dell’s 16 Premium.
Performance tier comparison:
- Beats RTX 5060 (80W)
- Matches RTX 5060 (100W)
- Competitive with RTX 5070 (60W)
- Slightly behind AMD Radeon 8060s in Strix Halo
Native gaming is far more efficient on Apple Silicon
Efficiency has long been Apple’s advantage, and it shows here too. The native version of Cyberpunk 2077 is 46% more efficient than the emulated one. And when compared to Windows laptops with similar performance, the M4 Max draws less power, runs cooler, and often stays quieter under load.
This test was conducted using an external display to avoid interference from macOS’s internal panel optimizations.
M4 Max makes macOS gaming viable but needs more titles
The MacBook Pro 16 with M4 Max isn’t a dedicated gaming machine and it shouldn’t be. But for users who already rely on it for work or creative tasks, native AAA support makes casual gaming far more feasible than in the past.
macOS still needs a larger native library, but performance and efficiency are no longer the roadblocks. With hardware this capable, it’s the software that needs to catch up.
