Valve, a giant in the gaming sector, has announced a huge change in its support for macOS versions, particularly impacting users of High Sierra and Mojave.
By next year, Steam will discontinue support for 32-bit games on these platforms.
Steam is Ending macOS Support for 32-bit Games
It's not yet the end of 2023, but Valve is ending support for macOS Mojave which runs 32-bit titles on Steam. The change will take effect on February 15, 2024.
Come February 15, 2024, Valve's Steam gaming store will cease support for macOS High Sierra (10.13) and macOS Mojave (10.14).
After this transition, existing Steam Client installations on these operating systems will no longer receive updates of any nature. This includes critical security updates and technical support for macOS 10.13 and 10.14 will be discontinued.
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Impact on Mac Compatibility
Valve emphasizes that the Steam store will no longer consider games with only 32-bit macOS binaries as compatible with Mac after the conclusion of 2023.
While this might raise concerns, the majority of Mac users remain unaffected, with over 98% of Steam customers already operating on macOS 10.15 or later. As Valve puts it, "this means 32-bit only games and applications no longer run on your current operating system."
Behind the Decision
Valve's choice to discontinue support aligns with Google's earlier decision to end support for macOS 10.13 and 10.14 in Chrome, a platform integral to several components of the Steam UI. Apple had previously halted security updates and technical support for macOS 10.13 in December 2020 and macOS 10.14 in October 2021.
What Valve Expects to Happen
Despite this shift, MacRumors writes that Valve anticipates that the Steam client and games on these older operating systems will continue functioning for a certain period. However, future iterations of Steam will mandate macOS features and security updates exclusive to macOS 10.15 and above.
Six Steam Games That Are Free Right Now
Valve is staying away from 32-bit games and now it's time to search for more titles that serve different gamers who love various genres.
According to Gaming Bible, PC users can download six games for free on Steam. Here are the games you can snag at the moment if you want to test some water for a change.
- Retro Commander
- Fishing Online
- Shell's Kitchen
- Reptile Chronicles
- True Reporter: Mystery of Mistwood
- Coffee Brakes
Elsewhere, "Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy-The Definitive Edition" is reportedly coming to the Netflix gaming library starting Dec. 14. It will be available in Netflix mobile app, App Store, and Google Play.
The collective edition will contain iconic titles from Rockstar's famous franchise GTA: These include Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto III, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Netflix has promised that it will deliver a more immersive experience for mobile gamers. The streaming company said that the Definitive Edition will present interesting visuals and features to gamers who are in for a wild ride once again.
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