Apple's new Game Porting Toolkit 2.0 makes it easier to convert Windows games to Macs and iOS

California-based Apple has announced an upgraded version of its Game Porting Toolkit designed to simplify the process of porting Windows games to macOS and now iOS, 9To5Mac reported.

Originally launched last year to make it easier to adapt Windows games to MacOS, this toolkit has already seen a number of high-profile games migrate to the Mac. The latest iteration, Game Porting Toolkit 2.0, expands its capabilities to include iPhone and iPad. According to the publication, Apple's Game Porting Toolkit provides a robust framework for translating Windows games into native MacOS applications.

Developers can use this tool to evaluate portability of their games to Mac, followed by detailed optimization for MacOS. The main feature of the toolkit is its ability to convert DirectX graphics to Metal, Apple's graphics API.

In addition to graphics translation, the toolkit helps developers take advantage of various built-in system features, including game controller support, surround audio and HDR video capabilities, the report added. With the release of MacOS Sequoia, Apple has improved its game porting tool, improved graphics performance, expanded software compatibility, and supported advanced features such as ray tracing and the AVX2 instruction set on compatible hardware.

The most significant development in Game Porting Toolkit 2.0 is the new iOS 18 support. This development was highlighted in a WWDC 2024 session where Apple explained how developers can now easily port Windows games to macOS and then to iPhone and iPad.

Once the game is optimized for macOS, converting it to iOS is reportedly easy thanks to a shared SDK. Features such as game controller support and graphics rendering are consistent across platforms. For instance, haptic feedback implemented for game controllers can be seamlessly integrated with the iPhone’s Haptic Engine using the same API.This streamlined porting process is expected to attract more game developers to Apple’s ecosystem, allowing them to reach a wider audience across multiple Apple devices with minimal additional effort. The Game Porting Toolkit 2.0 is currently in beta for developers and is expected to expand gaming capabilities on Apple platforms.