New iMac Expected To Lack Virtual Gaming Support

Apple are to introduce a new iMac to the market in 2017, with a boost to specifications which should be suitable for Pro users who are looking for an upgrade. The actual Mac Pro design upgrade is set for 2018.

It has been a fair while since Apple announced updates for their iMac and iMac Pro products. The last iMac update occurred in October 2015, when the Retina-class screen resolution was introduced to smaller models, and larger models were equipped with Skylake processor chips. The iMac Pro was last updated in 2013.

Desktop and laptop users will be happy to know that Apple are refocusing on computer design and updates, shifting attention temporarily away from their smartphone market, which is the larger proportion of their business. But gamers may be disappointed to hear that the upcoming iMac is likely to lack virtual gaming features.

Macs are currently unsuitable and incompatible with virtual reality. According to Oculus RIFT co-founder Palmer Luckey, this is mostly due to the Mac's underpowered GPU. He says that the "GPU... is not even close to what we're pushing for our recommended specs."

Apple's saving grace may come in the form of the AMS Polaris Graphics Card, which could bring iMac's up to the minimum spec required for them to feature VR gaming, but it is currently unknown whether the new iMac will feature this game-changing GPU.

Co-founder Nate Michell confirmed the lack of support, and said it would take another six months to bring the capabilities up to scratch.

Is it possible that Apple's reputation as the hottest PC designer may be suffering another blow? They certainly face stiff competition, and companies like Dell, Microsoft and HP provide plenty of rivalry with recent designs.

The Microsoft Surface Studio, for example, features a 28' display that morphs into a drafting tablet; perfect for artists and graphic designers. The HP Envy, meanwhile, features a stunning 32'color curved screen display that is ideal for gaming.

Yet Apple is and, for the foreseeable future, always will hold a strong position in the PC and laptop marketplace, and the even with an expected lack of virtual reality functionality the upgrades may still capture the hearts of iMac fans, especially iMac Pro users who are looking for a worthy upgrade.

This is especially true if Apple decide to make the long awaited switch to AMD processors. So far, rumors suggest that it could go either way. If Apple do make the move, the superior AMD processors would likely be available on top spec iMacs, or as an upgrade option from the standard Intel setup. The AMD 8-core Zen processor is looking like a favorite if this occurs.

Mac users who enjoy their gaming, and are disappointed with the news that the new iMac may not be VR-ready, will be glad to hear that Mac users can still enjoy a number of options, including gaming features not available for PC users.

As the world awaits the release of the new iMac, speculation will grow and rumors will circulate, but until Apple makes official announcements it is impossible to know the exact spec and features of the upgrades. The release date for the new iMac is yet to be confirmed.