The next macOS update will pull support for all 32-bit apps and games

The next big macOS update, macOS Catalina, is due out in October 2019. However, macOS Catalina also signals the end of an era, as it’s set to withdraw support for all 32-bit apps and games on Macs.

As game maker Paolo Pedercini points out on Twitter, macOS Catalina will essentially ‘kill’ all 32-bit applications. The majority of Unity games running at Unity 5.5 or below will refuse to run.

Most of Unity games until 5.5 (2016) will not run.

In addition Catalina will make Gatekeeper even more fascist, blocking apps that are not signed and notarized by certified developers (paying $100 a year).

— Paolo Pedercini ? (@molleindustria) September 3, 2019

While this might not sound too bad for those who work with 64-bit systems or who simply don’t care about 32-bit apps, but the fact of the matter is that macOS Catalina will wipe out a large amount of apps and games whose developers cannot or who are hesitant to update to modern systems.

This doesn’t just include old games such as Bioshock Infinite, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, GTA: San Andreas, Portal, and many others, but also includes any apps such as Adobe’s range of editing apps.

As Pedercini also points out, macOS Catalina will block any apps or games that aren’t signed or notarised by certified developers, who have to pay $100 a year for this privilege.

In the original article from MacRumors that Pedercini cited, Apple are reportedly moving onto a 64-bit only system so that all Macs are “properly optimised.” As MacRumors point out, 32-bit apps can run on 64-bit systems, but they can wind up a bit clunky or as a serious or noticeable drain on system resources.

In related news, EA announced earlier this year that they were withdrawing support for The Sims 4 on older machines, including non-Metal macOS machines and 32-bit PC operating systems.

All macOS machines running Metal are 64-bit by default, so EA are essentially just pulling support for all 32-bit systems. The Sims 4: Legacy Edition has been created that will continue to work with non-Metal macOS machines and 32-bit PCs.