Game Porting Toolkit allows porting games from macOS to iOS

In macOS 15 aka Sequoia, Apple has also worked on the Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK): version 2 of the porting suite brings several new functions. Like a Seminars from WWDC 2024 As can be seen, GPTK will also support iOS 18 in the future. This means that macOS can be transferred to iPhone and iPad.

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From Windows to iPhone via Mac

This makes two steps possible for the first time: you first port a Windows game to macOS and then – after some optimization if necessary – you can continue to port it to iOS and iPadOS. The latter step is comparatively easy, because the SDKs for graphics, audio and game controller support are almost identical across all systems.

Apple has it too Sample code released: “Build and run on a Mac, then iPad and iPhone.” Providing examples of a successful port for developers to look at is intended to help rule out potential problems. The Metal developer tools for Windows also support existing asset creation pipelines. This way, adjustments can be made directly to the GPU used by Apple devices so that all existing options can be used.

iOS 19 and Co.: Work begins on Apple’s next operating system

Ray Tracing and AVX2

GPTK 2 also comes with more improvements. New gaming technologies are supported, graphics and compute compatibility is enhanced, GPTK 2 supports ray tracing and AVX2. Overall performance is enhanced. Metal debugging and performance measurement tools are readily available including Metal HUD.

C++ code can be used using Metal-CPP, and the full Metal API is accessible. Debugging for converted shader code is done in Xcode 16. If you don’t have an Apple silicon Mac, you also have other options for playing Windows games on your Mac. Mac and I have put together alternatives to heise+ in a separate article. This also includes CrossOver, which has been popular for years. macOS 15 aka Sequoia will be released in the autumn, either in September or October. A beta test is currently underway among developers, and a public beta, which anyone interested can test, will be released later this month.

(B.Sc.)