Mac Gaming Takes an Unexpected Turn With the M5 Max MacBook Pro

When Apple dropped the M5 Max into the latest MacBook Pro, the obvious question was how far the chip could be pushed beyond the usual creative and productivity workloads. Andrew Tsai decided to find out, loading up 20 Windows games and running them through the CrossOver translation layer. The results were surprising to say the least, with the MacBook delivering solid frame rates in demanding titles that were never designed with Apple silicon in mind.

CrossOver handles the translation work, converting Windows game instructions into something macOS can process and swapping DirectX calls for Metal, with MetalFX upscaling available to sharpen visuals without hitting performance. Tsai ran everything on a fully loaded MacBook Pro with the 40 core GPU version of the M5 Max, 48GB of memory, and 18 CPU cores. Most games were tested at 1440p with a handful pushed to 4K, adjusting settings throughout to keep frame rates as smooth as possible.

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DOOM from 2016 opened the session by running at a locked 60 frames per second in 4K on ultra settings, helped along by a MoltenVK tweak that Tsai found works particularly well on the M5 series. Wolfenstein Youngblood matched that result at 4K with online play running without issue, and Wolfenstein 2 handled maximum detail at 4K just as comfortably. The more demanding titles required a little more work. Death Stranding 2 needed a patch from the CrossOver beta to clear up some water and geometry glitches, but settled into a steady 50 frames per second at 1440p on medium with MetalFX upscaling. Black Myth Wukong pushed past 50 frames per second at the same resolution on medium settings with MetalFX handling 66 percent of the rendering load, and Horizon Forbidden West held a consistent 50 frames per second at 1440p on medium with quality upscaling engaged.

Ratchet and Clank Rift. Apart felt entirely at home, achieving 60 frames per second at 1440p on high with MetalFX quality setting on. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 was likely the standout performance, exceeding 80 frames per second and reaching 100 at 1440p high while scaling from a lower internal resolution. The rest of the lineup carried the momentum forward. Ready or Not achieved 100 frames per second at 1440p high, with MetalFX handling 80% of the scaling work. Sekiro achieved 60 frames per second on its top setting, and Elden Ring matched it at 4K. Ghost of Tsushima operated at a consistent 70 to 80 frames per second at 1440p high resolution, with quality upscaling from 960p. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth settled at 52 to 53 frames per second at 1440p low, with temporal anti-aliasing and 66 percent scaling, implying that going to 1080p will smooth things down even more.

This setup will not replace a high-end Windows gaming rig with a dedicated discrete GPU, but it does make a convincing case for the MacBook Pro’s ability to hold its own when necessary. Creative workers have long relied on these devices for video editing, photo work, and 3D rendering, and now they can now play Windows-only titles on the same gear without having to carry a separate device. Battery life lasts quite well during gaming sessions, thanks to the efficient architecture that keeps power use under control, and connecting external disks or docks is simple, with no surprises on the storage or port front.

Tsai wrapped up by noting that console emulation is looking increasingly promising on this technology, with the 40 core GPU providing the raw power to tackle demanding scene translation and rendering in real time. For those already using a MacBook Pro with the M5 Max, the takeaway is simple. A substantially wider collection of games is now available on your existing system, with no new hardware required and no complicated workarounds in the way.
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