Can You Play Windows Games on a Crossover M1 MacBook?

The compatibility between Microsoft and Apple products is often a topic of discussion among tech enthusiasts. While it's technically possible to play certain Windows games on a crossover M1 MacBook using Parallels, the results are not always ideal. In fact, our research suggests that this approach is more of a workaround than a solution.

We spoke with colleagues at other Future publications and industry experts who confirmed that running Windows games on an M1-based MacBook is a known issue. The M1 Max chip, in particular, is not capable of solving this problem for the time being. As our tests showed, Parallels is a virtual machine, and it's not designed to run native games.

Our testing revealed some mixed results. While we were able to load and play certain titles like Far Cry New Dawn, Metro Exodus, and Grand Theft Auto V, others didn't fare as well. Borderlands 3 loaded but failed to run, while titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, DiRT 5, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Red Dead Redemption 2 did not load at all.

We wanted to see how some AAA games would perform on a Parallels-enabled M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, our results were lower than expected, with frame rates that fell short of what we had hoped for.

While the new MacBook Pros are undoubtedly powerful machines, they may not be the best choice for gamers. Our recent reviews highlighted some of the reasons why these laptops may not be ideal for gaming enthusiasts.

In conclusion, while it's technically possible to play Windows games on a crossover M1 MacBook using Parallels, the results are not always satisfactory. The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips should deliver better-than-average gaming performance on paper, but our tests revealed lower frame rate numbers than expected. For gamers looking for a seamless gaming experience, there may be better options available in the market.

Crossover m1 macbook