If you’re thinking of playing some Windows games on your Mac, the newly launched Parallels Desktop 15 virtualisation software now promises improved graphics performance and even support for a Microsoft Xbox controller.
Out today in Singapore, this year’s version of the popular software for Mac users supports Apple Metal API (application programming interface) that promises smoother performance while supports higher-quality graphics.
Parallels worked with Apple engineers to develop better support for Microsoft’s DirectX 11 set of graphics features so that Macs can run Windows games with improved performance, the company said today in a media event in Singapore.
Executives also showed off a Macbook Pro connecting to Xbox titles on Windows, including The Turing Test. Other games that Parallels Desktop 15 has tested well with include Madden 19, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition and, yes, Crysis 3.
Besides games, users can also run professional Windows apps on their Macs. These include CAD/CAM software such as Autodesk Revit 2020, Autodesk 3ds Max 2020, Lumion and ArcGIS Pro 2.3.
Of course, you still need good graphics hardware with enough horsepower to handle the demanding apps. A Mac with Intel’s integrated graphics won’t be as fast as one with additional discrete graphics, say, from AMD.
For those wondering what Parallels Desktop 15 does, the software has been allowing Mac users to run Windows programs concurrently, as if they are Mac apps.
A user can simply drag and drop files from a Mac environment to a Windows one, for example. Each year, Parallels Desktop has been updated to support new features from both Windows and macOS.
This year’s Parallels Desktop 15 is ready for macOS Mojave as well as macOS Catalina. A patch is expected as the operating systems get updated over time, Parallels executives promised today.
It costs US$79.99 a year for a new subscription to Parallels Desktop 15. Users upgrading from previous versions pay US$49.99.
Those who need to manage their Parallels rollouts or use the virtual machines for development work can consider the additional tools in the more costly Pro or Business editions. Each costs US$99.99 a year.
