The neon-drenched rain of Night City is set to glisten on a new horizon. In a defining moment for the gaming landscape, the sprawling, cybernetic epic Cyberpunk 2077, alongside its acclaimed expansion Phantom Liberty, is poised for its grand debut on Mac systems powered by Apple silicon in early 2026. This long-awaited arrival, confirmed for the App Store and Steam, heralds a future where the boundary-pushing vision of CD Projekt Red meets the raw computational artistry of Apple's M4 chip family, promising to transform iMacs, Mac minis, and MacBook Pros into portals to a meticulously realized dystopia.
A Symphony of Silicon and Shadow
The port is far from a simple transplant; it is a deep technological symbiosis. Leveraging the full might of Apple silicon and the Metal graphics API, the development team has engineered an experience that aims to be quintessentially Mac. The announcement sent waves of anticipation through the community, particularly with the confirmation of cutting-edge visual features. Path tracing, a rendering technique that simulates the complex physical behavior of light to achieve unparalleled realism, will bathe Night City's rain-slicked streets and towering megastructures in authentically chaotic illumination. Coupled with frame generation technology to ensure silken, responsive gameplay, the visual fidelity promises to be a landmark achievement for the platform.
CD Projekt Red's leadership has expressed palpable excitement for this new chapter. Michal Nowakowski, Joint Chief Executive Officer, stated, "I’m incredibly excited that Mac gamers across the world will be able to discover the world and stories of Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty early next year." He emphasized the transformative partnership: "With the power of Apple silicon and Apple’s advanced technologies, the dark future of Night City on Mac brings players impressive performance, amazing visuals, and an immersive, cinematic experience." This sentiment hints at a lasting collaboration, with Nowakowski adding, "We are also eagerly looking forward to the future of our games on Apple silicon," suggesting that the journey for Mac gamers may have only just begun.
For existing patrons of Night City, the transition will be seamless. Players who own the game on PC through Steam will be granted access to the Mac version at no additional cost, a gesture that honors their early investment. While the precise date remains shrouded in the corporate mist of a future announcement, the commitment to an early 2026 release window is firm.
The Ultimate Package: Base Game and a Spy-Thriller Expansion
Mac users will be stepping into the complete saga from day one. The release will take the form of the Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, a comprehensive package containing the vast, base open-world RPG and the espionage-laden narrative of the Phantom Liberty expansion. This expansion has been lauded as a masterclass in storytelling and design, earning a stellar 89% rating on OpenCritic with a staggering 99% of critics recommending it. Player sentiment echoes this praise, converging around a score of 90.
The expansion transports protagonist V to the volatile district of Dogtown, weaving a tale of political intrigue and moral ambiguity that has captivated audiences. Critics have praised its narrative depth, noting how the high-stakes spy thriller creates genuine emotional investment. One review captured the essence: "The main story in Phantom Liberty is engrossing to the point I was hesitant about what choices to make because I had become invested in the characters." The mission design receives equal acclaim for its cinematic scope, whether orchestrating a desperate escape from a fiery battlefield or navigating the deceptive calm of an opulent high-society party.
Why This Release Matters
For years, Cyberpunk 2077 has stood as a benchmark for ambitious, narrative-driven, first-person action-RPGs. Its journey from a tumultuous launch to its current status as a polished and expansive world is a testament to relentless post-launch support. The game offers a potent blend of:
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Gritty, responsive combat that will feel familiar and satisfying to fans of series like Borderlands.
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A deep, branching narrative where choices carry tangible weight and consequence.
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An unforgettable setting in Night City, a character in itself, brimming with stories in every rain-soaked alley and neon-lit plaza.
Now, in 2026, this entire experience is being re-engineered for a new architecture. The integration of built-in Spatial Audio will further deepen the immersion, making the cacophony of Night City—from the murmur of crowded markets to the roar of overhead AVs—feel tangibly present around the player.
This launch is more than just another platform release; it is a signal. It signifies Apple silicon's maturation into a legitimate force in high-end gaming and represents a major studio's commitment to the Mac ecosystem. For the Mac gaming community, it is the arrival of a title that has defined a genre, optimized to harness the unique strengths of their hardware. The wait is nearly over. Soon, the question won't be if your Mac can run Cyberpunk 2077, but how deeply you're willing to dive into its brilliantly dark future.