A future version of VMware Fusion promises to bring some big improvements to the experience of running Microsoft Windows on an Apple silicon Mac.
The new version, which is actually available via the free Fusion 2023 Tech Preview download, offers a number of improvements but at the very top of the pile is undoubtedly the addition of full 3D hardware acceleration support for Windows.
That means that everything from the day-to-day use of Windows 11 to the playing of games will feel more snappy and performant thanks to the ability to use the full GPU powers of Apple's latest Macs, including the new M2 Ultra-powered Mac Pro and Mac Studio.
Full acceleration
VMware announced the new update in a blog post, saying that "this upgrade brings a new level of graphics performance to Fusion, empowering users to run full DirectX 11 3D games and apps with stunning fidelity and speed." It goes on to say that people can expect the UI to be "much more responsive," adding that "resolution changes are nearly instant."
The addition of 3D hardware acceleration means that Mac owners can potentially run emulated 32-bit and 64-bit Windows games in ways that were simply not possible previously. "Now, not only can you take full advantage of your Mac’s computing power for productivity tasks, but you can also immerse yourself in a breathtaking gaming or multimedia experience," the blog post says.
In addition to making gaming on Apple's best Macs even better, this new update adds improved versions of VMware Tools on Apple silicon. "This Tech Preview now delivers support for the vast majority of VMware Tools features available for Windows VMs on Fusion for Intel Macs," VMware says.
Want to take all of this for a spin on your own Mac? VMware Fusion 2023 Tech Preview is available for download now.
