We tried playing PC games on MacBook Pro M1 Max via Parallels

We tried playing PC games on MacBook Pro M1 Max via Parallels — it'southward bad

MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 sitting on a patio table

(Image credit: Futurity)

In that location's no question that Apple'south new MacBook Pro xiv-inch 2021 and MacBook Pro sixteen-inch 2021 are powerful laptops. The M1 Pro and M1 Max processors packed within different laptop configurations mark a serious jump from the previous M1 chip. As we've noted in our review of the 14-inch model, Apple tree has given long-fourth dimension enthusiasts the MacBook Pro they've yearned for.

While both MacBook Pros are leaps beyond previous Apple notebooks and some competitive laptops, they fall short when information technology comes to gaming performance. Our own tests of the 14- and 16-inch notebooks revealed lower-than-expected frame rate numbers. The results are surprising considering how, on paper, the M1 Pro and M1 Max should evangelize better-than-average gaming performance.

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We recently detailed some of the reasons the new MacBook Pros are a waste for gamers. Some commenters stated that it'southward possible to run Parallels to play Windows games on the new Apple tree laptops (as is the example with 2020's M1-powered MacBook Pro). This piqued our involvement so we endeavored to test some AAA games on the 16-inch M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro via Parallels. Our aim was to put titles through our standard litany of performance tests and gauge the results.

Before moving on, we should explain what Parallels is and what it does. Parallels Desktop for Mac (equally it is officially called) is software that provides hardware virtualization for Mac computers with Intel and M1 processors. It fifty-fifty has x86-64 architecture emulation for Apple silicon Macs. Parallels allows users to run Windows programs that don't take Mac versions. It'due south too useful for transferring data from PC to Mac. With over vii million users, it'southward an extremely popular programme.

Unfortunately, using Parallels on the 16-inch M1 Max MacBook did not provide a smooth gaming feel. To be frank, we faced a host of bug running games on the programme. None of the 3DMark tests ran through the software installs. Worse still was the fact that half the games nosotros tried to test failed to load altogether.

	Event
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	Did not load
Borderlands 3	Loaded but didn't run
Clay 5	Did non load
Far Cry New Dawn	Loaded, ran and played
Far Weep vi	Did non load
M Theft Auto V	Loaded, ran and played
Metro Exodus	Loaded, ran and played
Crimson Dead Redemption 2	Did not load
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	Loaded just didn't run

Titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, DiRT v, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Cherry-red Dead Redemption ii did not load. Borderlands 3 loaded just failed to run (at that place is a stardom betwixt the two). We had better luck with Far Weep New Dawn, Metro Exodus and One thousand Theft Car V. They loaded, ran, and played well enough. However, the 3DMark tests did not report results accurately.

We tin't say we're surprised by these results. After all, Parallels is a virtual machine. It isn't a native app fabricated specifically for running games. Though some titles are indeed playable via Parallels, information technology'due south not an ideal solution (to say the least).

Colleagues we spoke with at other Future publications and elsewhere in the manufacture say that this is, for the lack of a better term, a "known issue" that fifty-fifty the M1 Max tin can't solve (at least for the moment). Based on our research and what our colleagues believe, this comes downwards to matters of compatibility between Microsoft and Apple tree products. At that place's also the perpetual difficulty of getting programs to run equally intended in a virtual machine similar Parallels.

Afterward spending virtually an entire workday testing games, we've ended that AAA PC gaming may be possible on the sixteen-inch M1 Max-powered via Parallels — though information technology's a dicey proposition. Some titles will run but others volition fail to even load. The inconsistency isn't peachy and is proof that Apple's hardware is notwithstanding not suitable for AAA gaming experiences. Every bit far as we're concerned it's not worth the fourth dimension or headaches trying to play games through Parallels will engender.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider — (Image credit: Square Enix)

These results are disappointing because the power of the M1 Max GPU. But it'southward non so much an inherent problem of the scrap every bit it is near developers non optimizing games for macOS. Apple provided u.s.a. with a list of some AAA titles playable on macOS. Notable games include Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Borderlands iii. Nosotros tested both on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Max scrap and they ran well, with Borderlands 3 striking 40fps at 1080p and Shadow of the Tomb Raider averaging 85fps at the same resolution. While those are solid AAA releases, like titles aren't ubiquitous on macOS.

One of the master problems with a lot of these games is that -- possibly for good reasons — they're not designed to recognize the M1 Max chip'south graphics hardware as something that is capable of running them, or (on the games that practice run) something that is capable of running them optimally. We would need to do a deeper dive into the M1 graphics architecture to discover why this is the example. That'due south an commodity for another day.

The M1 Max is a pregnant step forward for Apple tree silicon and is more than than capable of providing fantabulous gaming performance. Just until things change with game optimization (and publisher relationships), electric current and futurity MacBooks will not take the gaming experiences institute on other devices and platforms. As far as using Parallels to play PC games on Mac is concerned, you're gratuitous to give it a endeavor. Merely based on our tests, don't expect a polish ride.

More: MacBook Pro 2021 benchmarks — how fast are M1 Pro and M1 Max?

Tony is a computing writer at Tom's Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending likewise much fourth dimension on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attention Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC confined with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.