Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition Launches for Mac on July 17th — Apple Silicon Owners Rejoice
Dave W. Shanahan 4 minutes read
After years of anticipation, CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition officially hits the Mac App Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com this Thursday, July 17th. This marks the first native release of Cyberpunk 2077 on macOS, specifically designed for the full lineup of Apple silicon devices, spanning M1 to the latest M4 chips.
“With the power of Apple silicon and Apple’s advanced technologies, the dark future of Night City on Mac brings players impressive performance, amazing visuals, and an immersive, cinematic experience.” — CD Projekt Red CEO.
What’s Included in the Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition Coming to Mac
Base game & Phantom Liberty expansion
- All major updates (including the new 2.3 patch with added cars and enhanced photo mode).
- Support for Apple’s spatial audio, XDR displays, and native peripherals (Magic Mouse, Trackpad).
Who Can Play? System Requirements
Only Macs with 16GB of unified memory or more are compatible. This excludes base M1 and M2 models with 8GB RAM, but includes every Apple silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, and M4) that meets the memory requirement. The experience will vary depending on the chip, but the game features a “For this Mac” preset for optimal graphics settings right out of the box.
Technical Information
- Customized Presets: Graphics settings tailored for each Apple silicon model.
- Ray tracing with path tracing: Enhanced lighting and effects on higher-end chips.
- AMD FSR upscaling & frame generation: Smoother gameplay with upscaling technology.
- MetalFX upscaling (with future updates): Apple’s own upscaling for higher frame rates and improved visuals.
- Cross-progression: Seamlessly continue gameplay across Mac, Windows, and consoles.
- Native Metal API support and TBDR architecture utilization: Delivers better performance and efficiency for Apple hardware.
Mac Gaming Gets a Major Boost—But Windows 11 Remains the Benchmark
This long-awaited Mac release takes full advantage of Apple technologies, bringing features like HDR, spatial audio, and optimized path tracing to macOS users. However, for gamers seeking raw performance and the highest fidelity, it’s important to note that Cyberpunk 2077 continues to run superior on Windows 11 PCs. The Windows ecosystem, with its wider hardware support and mature driver ecosystem, generally delivers more consistent frame rates, especially at ultra settings and with ray tracing enabled — a trend observed in cross-platform benchmarks and enthusiast feedback.
Why the Mac Release Still Matters
Cyberpunk 2077’s arrival on the Mac is a milestone for both Apple and CD Projekt Red. It not only signals growing commitment to AAA gaming on the Mac, but also provides a showcase for what’s possible on modern Apple silicon. Key benefits for Mac gamers include:
- Access to the complete, up-to-date experience in Night City, including all DLC.
- Streamlined setup with native support and optimal presets, eliminating the need for game-porting workarounds.
- Cross-progression for players with multiple platforms or sharing between family members.
Pro Tip: Existing PC owners do not have to repurchase on Mac if their copy is from Steam, GOG.com, or Epic Games Store.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can my 8GB MacBook Air (M2) run Cyberpunk 2077?
No — 16GB unified memory is mandatory for all supported Apple silicon Macs.
Q: Will there be feature parity with the Windows version?
Yes, including the Phantom Liberty expansion, patch 2.3 updates, and support for advanced upscaling and ray tracing[3][7][6].
Q: Is performance data available for all Mac models?
Apple and CDPR have not published model-by-model benchmarks, but in-game presets should ensure smooth gameplay for every supported device.
With its official launch on July 17th, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition brings Night City’s neon-lit world natively to the Mac for the first time — as long as you have an Apple silicon device with 16GB of unified memory. While this is a giant leap for Mac gaming, Windows 11 PCs still offer the premier Cyberpunk 2077 experience in terms of graphics and performance. Whichever platform you choose, there’s never been a better time to explore Night City’s dark future.
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