The Steam platform for Mac is progressing toward a native Apple Silicon version. A beta release introduced on Thursday enables the Steam client and its helper application to operate natively on Mac computers equipped with M series chips. This forthcoming transition to a Universal app is expected to enhance performance and optimize memory use compared to the current stable version, which depends on Apple’s Rosetta translation layer for compatibility with older applications.
Steam for Mac Now Operates Natively on Apple Silicon Without Rosetta 2
According to the release notes for the Steam client beta, which were shared on Friday, both the main client and the Steam Helper app are now running natively on Mac systems using Apple Silicon. This update indicates that Valve has revised the app’s code to function directly on Apple Silicon chips, eliminating the need for Rosetta 2.
Users participating in the beta testing of the new Steam for Mac version have observed that the native application significantly outperforms its predecessor. Launch times have been reduced, and navigating through the Library, Store, and Community tabs is markedly quicker.
The Steam client utilizes Chromium for its interface, while the stable release of the app has been notably slow on newer Mac models. An update is anticipated that will roll out the native app to the stable update channel, extending these performance upgrades to all Steam users.
In the aftermath of Apple’s introduction of the first Mac models with M1 chips in November 2020, many developers began releasing native versions of their apps. In subsequent years, numerous applications transitioned to Universal formats that operate natively on Apple Silicon, although some still rely on Rosetta 2 for compatibility with the latest Mac hardware.
Valve’s initiative to launch a native Steam version for Mac coincides with Apple’s announcement that the upcoming macOS Tahoe will be the last upgrade for Intel-based Mac computers. An updated document for developers has also indicated that Rosetta 2 will be phased out with the release of macOS 28 in 2027. However, Apple plans to maintain a portion of its translation layer to support older games that have not been modified for modern Mac configurations.
