Valve is finally bringing full native support to Macs with Apple Silicon, making it easier to enjoy your favourite games without emulation. If you’ve been running Steam on an M1 or M2 Mac, you’ve probably been using Rosetta 2 – Apple’s built-in tool that lets Intel apps work on Apple’s newer ARM-based chips. But now, thanks to the latest Steam client beta, you can run the platform natively for a smoother and faster experience.
What this means for Mac users
In Steam’s most recent beta version, Valve confirms that the “Steam Client and Steam Helper apps now run natively on Apple Silicon.” The Steam app no longer depends on Rosetta 2 to function on your Mac with Apple’s custom M-series processors.
Previously, Rosetta 2 was necessary to bridge the gap between Intel-based apps and Apple Silicon. While it did a solid job for the most part, it wasn’t a perfect solution. Running apps through an emulator often leads to slower performance, extra power usage, and minor glitches. With this update, you can expect better overall speed, quicker app launches, and more stable gameplay when using Steam on your Apple Silicon Mac.
If you’re wondering how to try it yourself, it’s fairly simple. Open the Steam app on your Mac, click on Steam > Settings > Interface, and choose Steam Beta Update under “Client Beta Participation” from the dropdown menu. Steam will then prompt you to relaunch the app, and you’ll be on your way to enjoying native support.
Apple is phasing out Intel support
Apple recently announced that it will no longer provide major updates for Intel-based Macs after the upcoming release of macOS Tahoe. This makes Valve’s update all the more important for future compatibility. Apple also confirmed that Rosetta 2 will only be available until macOS 27, giving users a clear timeline before older systems and tools phase out.
“Beyond this timeframe, we will keep a subset of Rosetta functionality aimed at supporting older unmaintained gaming titles that rely on Intel-based frameworks,” Apple stated.
While some legacy games might still work on future versions of macOS, the overall trend is toward full Apple Silicon support. If you’re still using an Intel Mac, now might be the time to consider upgrading.
A boost for Apple gamers
This move by Valve is a big step forward for gaming on the Mac. While Apple has traditionally lagged in the PC gaming world, the power of Apple Silicon has helped close the gap. Native support means more game developers may feel confident optimising their games for macOS. And for you, the user, it simply means a better, faster, and more enjoyable gaming experience.
If you already have an Apple Silicon Mac, enable the beta update and see the improvements yourself. It’s a sign that the future of gaming on the Mac is getting brighter — and faster.
