- The following is the first in a series of posts by guest blogger Patrick Schoof—or, as he is known in gaming circles, Unexceptional, a popular Twitch streamer using Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac.Read on to learn about his experience choosing and using Parallels Desktop to live-stream games from his iMac.
- Parallels Desktop 12 includes a one-year subscription to online cloud backup service Acronis for safely backing up virtual machines up to 500GB in size. Last but not least, Parallels offers independent screen resolutions for multiple displays.
A new version of Parallels Desktop has been unleashed for the Mac, boasting a number of fresh features including one that gamers will be particularly excited about.
Parallels Desktop allows Mac users to run Windows apps in a virtual environment, and as you would expect, version 12 of the software is fully compatible with macOS Sierra, and is 25% faster in terms of overall performance compared to its predecessor.
It comes with over 20 new handy utilities that can accomplish various functions – and are also available in standalone format as the Parallels Toolbox for Mac app – but gamers will be most interested to learn about bolstered support for PC games.
Parallels says that version 12 will allow Mac users to play more PC games than ever, and with better performance levels so everything will run smoother. Indeed, the company has actually worked with Blizzard to ensure that Parallels Desktop 12 is fully optimized for popular team-based shooter Overwatch.
Parallels also worked with Blizzard Entertainment and optimized Parallels Desktop 12 to support Overwatch. Another important feature in this release is the support for Windows 10 Xbox app, enabling users to stream and play Xbox games on their Mac devices. Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac will be available today. Customers upgrading from version 11 or 12 can get a perpetual license for a one-time charge of $49.99 or the subscription for $49.99 a.
Toolbox tricks
Okay, so back to the Parallels Toolbox utilities – what are they all about? These are simple tools to help you carry out everyday computing tasks more quickly, including capturing screen grabs, recording video, downloading videos from social network sites, unpacking ZIPs and the like, archiving and encrypting files, and other little bits and pieces such as alarms and timers.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro users (and those with the Business Edition) will get new tools for free every three months.
Further features for Parallels Desktop 12 include comprehensive support for Windows Ink, and a new wizard which allows users to purchase and install Windows 10 with a minimum of fuss from within the software. The program has also added an option to schedule Windows maintenance, so you can patch up overnight or when your Mac isn't being used.
Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac comes with a free one-year subscription to Acronis True Image, and those upgrading from version 10 or 11 can do so right now for £35 (around $45, AU$60).
The standalone version of the program goes on sale August 23 (next Tuesday) and will retail at £65 (around $85, AU$110). Parallels Desktop Pro Edition and the Business Edition will both set you back £80 (around $105, AU$135) per year, and if you want Parallels Toolbox for Mac on its own, a subscription costs £8 (around $11, AU$13.50) per year.
- Also check out: Can a Mac be a gaming PC? How the world is changing for Mac gamers
Overview
With Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac and later you can play Windows games that require DirectX 11. If you upgrade to Parallels Desktop 15 from earlier versions, DirectX 11 will become available automatically in Windows after installing new Parallels Tools.
Play many favorite games including:
- Madden 19
- FIFA 19
- Anno 2205
- Railway Empire
- Space Engineers
- Frostpunk
- Risk of Rain 2
- Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
- Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
- Crysis 3 and many more.
Requirements
System requirements for DirectX 11:
- macOS 10.14.4 and later, macOS 10.15 and later
- Parallels Desktop 15 and later
- Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
Tune Windows for Best Performance
To ensure that your Windows virtual machine shows the best performance, please follow the steps below:
- Shutdown Windows virtual machine
- Open virtual machine's configuration > click 'Change...' button > select 'Games only' profile > click OK.
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Note: This profile changes macOS and Windows sharing settings. If you want to enable Shared Applications and Shared Profile, visit Options tab > 'Sharing' and 'Applications' settings respectively.
Performance Disclaimer
Most of DirectX 11 games are hardware stressful applications, thus their performance is directly related to Mac hardware (GPU, CPU and hard disk).
Parallels Desktop 12 For Mac Review
Note: macOS 10.15 Catalina is recommended for the best graphics performance (due to improved Apple Metal performance).
Parallels Desktop 12 For Mac Is The World's
To check what Processor and Graphics your Mac equipped with, go to > About This Mac > System Report... > Graphics/Displays.
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It is recommended that your Mac has a dedicated PCIe graphics adapter:
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Note: Alternatively, you can use an external graphics processor with Mac. Learn more...