Tech Desk 
Jun 13, 2025
Steam has started offering native support for Apple Silicon Macs, finally moving away from relying on Rosetta 2 emulation.
The update, currently available in the Steam beta client, allows Mac users with M1, M2, and M3 chips to run the app more smoothly and efficiently.
Apple Silicon support introduced in Steam
Previously, Steam used Rosetta 2 — Apple’s translation layer — to operate on M-series Macs, which are based on ARM architecture.
Meanwhile, Rosetta 2 allowed Intel-based apps to function; it often led to slower performance. With native Apple Silicon support now active, the Steam Client and Steam Helper apps can directly utilise the power of Apple’s in-house chips, improving speed, compatibility, and overall gaming experience.
This move follows Apple’s recent announcement that it will end major software updates for Intel-based Macs after the launch of macOS Tahoe.
The company also revealed that Rosetta 2 will be removed after macOS 27, making native Apple Silicon support essential for apps and games to remain functional on future systems.
How can you try Steam Beta update?
Users who want to try the updated version can opt in by launching Steam on their Mac, navigating to Steam > Settings > Interface, and selecting “Steam Beta Update” from the Client Beta Participation dropdown. A quick relaunch is needed to activate the changes.
