'Overwatch' Game Is Not Coming To Mac; Developer Will Focus On PC, Xbox One And PS4

Game developer Blizzard's new shooter "Overwatch" game is said not to appear on OS X, the platform for Apple' s desktop, Mac computers. It is unusual as Blizzard usually brings its games to OS X and Windows. Polygon reported that the developer confirmed this during the BlizzCoN in Anaheim, CA on November 6 and 7.

Game developers typically release their games for the PC first, then, will consider an OS X version, which at times, will follow several years later. Blizzard is quite exceptional because it usually has games for both PC and OS X at the same time. Though for "Overwatch," it is not the case.

Jeff Kaplan, the game director of the "Overwatch" game admitted they have a longstanding support for Apple's Macs but for now are focusing efforts on Windows, saying, "Currently with the technology behind Macs and the way Overwatch runs it's just too challenging for us at this point to support it. Our focus right now is entirely on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4."

On June2, 2015, Blizzard introduced "Heroes of the Storm," a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game for Mac OS X. However, the "Overwatch" game team found technical challenges with Mac OS X.

There were no specifics which part of Mac's technology made it so difficult for the "Overwatch" team but MacRumors suspects it could be the graphics support like OpenGL and new technology, Metal. Early developers who committed to Metal like Adobe backpedaled a bit.

Apple was criticized for not adopting the latest OpenGL version, which is the basis for modern game development. Mac computers are sometimes considered overpriced but have higher-end configurations that do not slouch. Then, it is not known what specs the game requires or it might have some demands Mac computers cannot just run, said Ubergizmo.

In the meantime, "Overwatch" is available for pre-purchase and is set to release in the spring.