Gamers who use Valve’s SteamVR with an Apple-made laptop or desktop are losing access to the platform.
macOS support is discontinued, Valve confirmed in a notice. Leading up to the announcement, Valve never indicated its plan to abandon Apple’s operating system. SteamVR, which lets gamers run virtual reality experiences on their laptop or desktop, debuted on macOS in 2017. It’s also available on Windows and Linux.
Valve didn’t get into the exact reason it discontinued macOS support, but it’s no secret that Apple’s operating system falls short of expectations among serious gamers. Often, they’re choosing Windows or Linux to run high-end titles on capable hardware. macOS devices can earn additional horsepower through an eGPU; however, gamers are more likely to choose a machine that allows modification and customization, which Windows and Linux certainly embrace. Since the platform seemingly failed to gain strong interest on macOS, Valve opted to focus on the other two operating systems where gaming remains heavily popular.
“SteamVR has ended OSX support so our team can focus on Windows and Linux,” the notice reads.
Legacy builds are still available to download, though. Valve will offer the files behind SteamVR to developers interested in designing virtual reality apps and games on macOS despite losing full support such as new features and bug fixes.
Apple, meanwhile, could soon release a similar platform for macOS. Rumors suggest it’s developing smart glasses that leverage both virtual and augmented reality, and there’s no doubt its laptops and desktops would feature compatibility. Still, futuristic eyewear from Apple has sat in the rumor mill for several years. Nothing tells us Apple is on the verge of announcing its first consumer-ready product in the space. In fact, a report published last summer claimed that Apple killed the project altogether. So it’ll take some time before we understand exactly how Apple wants to unify virtual and augmented reality across its portfolio.
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