Apple’s latest M4 Max chip isn’t just a powerhouse for creative workloads—it’s also a dark horse for gaming. A Reddit user recently pushed Capcom’s upcoming PRAGMATA demo through a translation layer on an M4 Max Mac Studio, achieving a staggering 97 frames per second at native 1080p resolution with every graphical setting turned to maximum. No upscaling. No frame generation. Just raw, unfiltered performance.
For context: PRAGMATA is a sci-fi action-adventure game built on Capcom’s RE Engine, the same tech behind Resident Evil Village and Dead Space Remake. The demo is already a showcase of high-end PC gaming, but running it on Apple Silicon—without native optimization—is a testament to the M4 Max’s capabilities. The test used Crossover 26 beta, a tool that translates Windows applications into macOS, which typically introduces some performance overhead. Yet the M4 Max still delivered near-triple-digit FPS.
The results are particularly striking when compared to a traditional gaming laptop. Using the same settings—1080p, maxed-out graphics, no DLSS or frame generation—an RTX 4090 laptop outperformed the M4 Max, but the gap narrowed significantly when enabling upscaling and AI-assisted frame smoothing. That suggests Apple’s chip could hit even higher FPS with those techniques, though they weren’t part of this test.
Capcom has a mixed history with Apple Silicon. The company ported Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil 2 Remake to macOS, but sales were lackluster—RE7 reportedly earned just $30,000 on launch, while RE2 struggled to cross 10,000 sales. Those numbers don’t justify the development costs, and PRAGMATA’s PC release on April 24 adds another layer of uncertainty. Will Capcom prioritize a native port when the Apple Silicon market remains niche?
The M4 Max’s performance in this test is undeniable, but it doesn’t guarantee a native release. For now, Apple users will have to rely on workarounds—or hope Capcom changes its mind.
- The M4 Max Mac Studio ran PRAGMATA at 97FPS in 1080p with all settings maxed, no upscaling, and no frame generation.
- Capcom’s previous macOS ports (RE7, RE2 Remake) saw minimal sales, raising doubts about a native PRAGMATA release.
- An RTX 4090 laptop outperformed the M4 Max in this test, but the gap closed with upscaling and frame generation enabled.
- Crossover 26 beta was used to run the non-native demo, which typically introduces minor performance penalties.
The M4 Max’s ability to handle demanding games like PRAGMATA suggests Apple’s chips are closing the gap with dedicated GPUs—but whether developers will follow remains the biggest question.
