Memory contents are left in RAM, and the RAM stays powered on, but your Mac also copies everything stored in RAM to the boot drive. When you resume your session, your machine wakes up fast, as everything you left in memory is still there and ready to go.įor laptops, the process has an additional safeguard. On desktops, like the iMac or Mac Pro, RAM is left powered on during Sleep mode, while other components are powered off to save energy. Depending on whether you have a desk- or laptop, Sleep mode works a bit differently.
macOS also takes time to boot, and any software that starts with your machine has to restart, as well.
When you start it up again, everything has to be loaded into RAM. A shutdown first closes all running processes-including the operating system-and then cuts power to your machine. EA's platform Origin is also available for Mac, but its selection of compatible games is limited.Shutting down your computer and Sleep mode aren’t the same. Humble Bundle is another site that allows you to purchase games at a discount, with some of the proceeds going to charity.Īdditionally, Blizzard's platform is Mac-compatible, which runs games such as World of Warcraft and Diablo III. Steam's interface is also easy to use-it displays an Apple logo on all Mac-compatible games, and you can even browse the macOS section of Steam to filter by OS. There are two in particular you should look out for: one around the holidays and one in the summer. Unlike the Mac App Store, Steam has sales year-round.
You just need to download the Steam desktop app, create a free account, and you're in. Despite this, you may want to avoid buying games on the Mac App Store due to its relative lack of gaming discounts compared to other platforms.Īs you probably know, the biggest library of Mac-compatible games by far is on Steam, Valve's gaming marketplace. The selection is not bad, it's constantly updated, and Apple has recently worked on cultivating and displaying more indie titles. There's no easy way to connect it wirelessly, but installing an app called 360Controller will let you connect it via a USB cable. Xbox: Unfortunately for Xbox users, because of Microsoft's proprietary controller interface, you'll need special software to connect your controller.On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth, find the controller, and hit Connect.
For a Pro Controller, you'll find the pairing button on top of the controller by the charging port. Then simply hold down the black pairing button on the side of the Joy-Con (the part that clicks into the Switch) until the green lights start flashing. First shut down your Switch to stop it from connecting to the controller.
PlayStation 4: Use Bluetooth to pair your DualShock 4 to your Mac, or just connect it with a USB cable.If you already own a game console, there's a good chance that you can pair its controller to your Mac: But a controller is much more suitable for platformers or racing games. Of course, for some genres (like shooters and strategy games) a mouse and keyboard is far superior. Your Mac can use all sorts of controllers, whether wired or wireless, as well as official console controllers or generic options.