I just played an early copy of Control on the new M4 MacBook Pro, and I couldn't help but think, "Yikes, PCs better watch their back!"
Before die-hard PC gamers jump in with, "macOS is still miles away from Windows when it comes to gaming," I hear you. I'm not saying that Macs are nipping at Windows PCs' heels. They're not — at least, not yet.
However, in the gaming realm, the gap between Windows and macOS is beginning to shrink — and that should terrify Windows. Why? While Windows may still have hardcore gamers wrapped around its fingers, it may start to lose its grip on casual and newbie gamers. And my experience with Control confirmed this for me.
You may have played Control on another platform before, but you likely haven't played Control like this.
Launched nearly five years ago, the action-adventure game came out on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. But on a shiny new M4 MacBook Pro, I was floored by its graphical fidelity and breathtaking visuals.
The M4 chip breathed new life into Control. Playing as Jesse Faden, a young woman with supernatural abilities, I levitated over the jagged terrain — and I was mesmerized by the dynamic lighting that danced on each rock formation, casting soft-edged, realistic shadows that shifted with my movements.
Some floating debris and polished stone surfaces picked up ambient reflections, adding a subtle glossy effect. Even distant light sources bounced off rocks and debris, creating reflections that feel true-to-life.
The graphics were vivid, crisp, and eye-catching. Faden looked visually stunning, too. She was kicking butt and taking names with a leather jacket that seemed so tangible, I was convinced I could feel the texture if I touched the screen.
Why does Control look so darn good? Thank the hardware-accelerated ray-tracing and mesh shading found on the M4 chip (as well as the previous-generation M3 chip). In simple terms, the latest Macs can render ultra-realistic lighting and shadows. Plus, they can manage detailed 3D environments more seamlessly.
With a computationally complex game like Control playing so smoothly and responsively on the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro, Windows should be concerned.
It's worth noting, though, that I didn't get to feel the underside of the MacBook Pro to determine its thermal management. Plus, I wasn't able to observe any load times for Control — the game was already fired up and ready to play at Apple's showcase.
Let's say you're looking for a new laptop. You don't consider yourself a gamer, but you want to get started. You want a machine that's perfect for daytime productivity and casual nighttime gaming. You don't have any allegiance to macOS nor Windows, but the former has a reputation of delivering long battery life and beastly performance.
After all, in our recent testing of the M4 MacBook Pro, it lasted 16 hours and 32 minutes on a single charge. Performance-wise, it blew rivals away.
Plus, macOS is set to support one of the most graphics-intensive games on the market: Cyberpunk 2077.
MacBooks have a limited library compared to Windows (an issue that Apple is tackling with the Game Porting Toolkit to help developers bring their Windows games to macOS more efficiently), but that's OK — you're just giving gaming a taste and you're fine with just sampling what's on offer.
Additionally, Apple appears to be working tooth-and-nail to bring more games into its catalog, including Control, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and more.
While considering a Windows laptop, the same consumer may be attracted to its vast library of games, but they'll likely have to contend with poor battery life and being shackled to an outlet all day long.
That being said, whether you're a newbie gamer who isn't drawn to specific titles, or a casual player who doesn't mind macOS' current catalog, there isn't much that will lure you into Windows' arms, particularly if you're an OS-agnostic consumer.
In other words, if you're a here-and-there gamer who isn't bothered by a limited gaming library, then why opt for Windows?
Control, set to roll out on macOS in February 2025, might be the wake-up call Windows needs to address its possible slipping appeal among casual and newbie gamers. As mentioned at the outset, the gap between Windows and macOS in the gaming world is still wide, but Apple is making steady progress.
