Apple releases Mac graphics patch

Posted on 23 Aug 2010 at 15:53

Apple has released a free update for its Mac OS X 'Snow Leopard' operating system which it claims improves performance when playing games on the company's desktop and laptop systems.

The update - provided free of charge and available through the integrated update system in Mac OS X or via direct download from Apple's website - will make gaming on the platform significantly more enjoyable by improving the performance of the graphics cards within the systems.

As well as performance improvements, Apple's update also fixes some stability issues - in particular with the newly-released real-time strategy game StarCraft II, which was known to be affected by a bug in the graphics drivers that could cause the game to become unresponsive or unexpectedly quit.

The update comes as Apple concentrates harder on the gaming market - long considered a place where the company's machines trail behind their Windows-based PC counterparts - and will come as a welcome enhancement for anyone who uses their Apple Mac, Mac Pro, or MacBook for gaming.

The update comes nearly half a year after games publisher Valve ported its popular games download service Steam to Mac OS X, allowing PC and Mac gamers to play together in what the company's John Cook called "the same multiplayer universe." With multiplayer gamers needing every edge they can get - especially in the twitch-heavy world of first-person shooters - this update could help Mac gamers' chances.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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