HTC Vive is coming to Mac

It's been a been a stick that Windows computer owners have been able to beat Mac users with for a few years now, but at WWDC 2017, Apple's finally made a serious commitment to virtual reality.

During the Mac-focussed segment of the developer conference, Apple made a series of announcements that brought smiles to the faces of VR fans.

Firstly, it revealed that Metal 2 is now optimised for virtual reality development. But the biggest cheers were reserved for HTC Vive and Steam VR, which are both now officially, natively supported on Apple's computing devices.

Developer support

For developers, the support will be deep. The SteamVR SDK will be supported alongside two of the most popular VR development engines, Unity and Unreal.

Making the most of its links with the CGI giants at Industrial Light and Magic, Apple showcased the new technology partnerships with a demo showing how ILM creators can now design scenes within virtual reality environments. Using the HTC Vive's wand-like controller as a pallette, an ILM artist was able to create a computer-generated Star Wars scene in real time, complete with cape-flapping Vader and on-demand fiery Tie Fighters.

With virtual reality still looking for its breakthrough moment, native VR support on Apple devices for one of the biggest platforms in the space massively expands its exposure. It's interesting too that Apple focussed on creatives and content creation – Mac's never been known as a gaming platform, so focussing on its core creative user base is a smart, stealthy way to differentiate itself and please its hardcore audience.