'Correctness comes first. Performance improves next.' Fedora Asahi Remix project brings Windows PC gaming to Apple silicon Macs

SoftwareOperating Systems’Correctness comes first. Performance improves next.' Fedora Asahi Remix project brings Windows PC gaming to Apple silicon MacsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Max Tech)

Apple M1 Ultra next to an AMD Ryzen 3 3300X for scale.

We first learned of the project viaArs Technicabut one of the developers involved, Alyssa Rosenzweig, has been frequently reporting on the work on her blog. Thelatest entrydetails how Fedora Ashahi Remix (FAR) lets you fire up Windows-based games, such asControl,Fallout 4,Cyberpunk 2077, andWitcher 3, on any Apple Mac using the M1 chip.

What the developers had to do, though, was entirely more complex and challenging. Apple M1 chips are fundamental Arm-based in terms of architecture, so FAR usesFEX-Emuto run x86 binaries (i.e. compiled code) on Arm. It also usesWineto translate Windows commands into Linux ones, andDXVK/vkd3d-protonto convert instructions for DirectX into ones for Vulkan.

Rosenzweig explains one significant hurdle that the project had to overcome: “Operating systems allocate memory in fixed size pages. If an application expects smaller pages than the system uses, they will break due to insufficient alignment of allocations. That’s a problem: x86 expects 4K pages but Apple systems use 16K pages.”

Now, I know you’re thinking that this can’t be super fast. Rosenzweig admits that the latest AAA games don’t run at 60 fps just yet but that’s because the primary goal of the project is to be as broadly compatible as possible. “Correctness comes first. Performance improves next,” says Rosenzweig.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Fedora Ashahi Remix isn’t just about gaming, though, and the project is pushing ahead to include aswide a level of x86 emulationas possible.

One thing that’s worth mentioning is that the virtual machine is designed to allow emulated applications to use up to 80% of the system’s memory. While this can be configured to be lower, it does mean that if yourApple M1 Mac only has 8 GB of RAM, you’re potentially going to run into problems. Ideally, you want 16 GB or more.

Thinking of upgrading?(Image credit: Microsoft)Windows 11 review: What we think of the latest OS.How to install Windows 11: Our guide to a secure install.Windows 11 TPM requirement: Strict OS security.

Thinking of upgrading?

(Image credit: Microsoft)Windows 11 review: What we think of the latest OS.How to install Windows 11: Our guide to a secure install.Windows 11 TPM requirement: Strict OS security.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11 Square logo

Windows 11 review: What we think of the latest OS.How to install Windows 11: Our guide to a secure install.Windows 11 TPM requirement: Strict OS security.

TheSteam Deckhas shown that it’s perfectly possible to run Windows-based games in Linux, though that platform does have the advantage of using x86 hardware. The team behind FAR deserve a huge amount of respect for getting this to all work with Arm-based hardware.

Now, the real question is whether or not, this could potentially be transferred onto laptops using Qualcomm’sSnapdragon Xprocessors. Such PCs currently use Windows on Arm to run native x86 applications on the Arm-based CPU but for games, it’snot the greatest of solutionsand perhaps the likes of FAR could work better.

More importantly, it’s perhaps a sign that gaming PCs of the future could be shipped with a Linux distribution that has no problems whatsoever running any Windows-based game or application. After all, many PCs have ridiculouslypowerful CPUsand masses of RAM that are heavily underutilized in games, as it’s the GPU doing all that hard work.

I’ll be the first in the queue for that operating system if it ever happens.

TOPICSHardwareapple

TOPICS

More about operating systemsA debloating wizard has managed to get Windows 11 running on just 184 MB of RAM, and it looks like it can actually run appsWindows 11 24H2 is the unwanted holiday gift that keeps on giving thanks to Auto HDR game crashes, audio device woes, odd bouts of stuttering and moreLatestWormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s vanSee more latest►

More about operating systems

A debloating wizard has managed to get Windows 11 running on just 184 MB of RAM, and it looks like it can actually run appsWindows 11 24H2 is the unwanted holiday gift that keeps on giving thanks to Auto HDR game crashes, audio device woes, odd bouts of stuttering and more

Windows 11 Task Manager showing 11 GB RAM use with a sad face drawn on top

A debloating wizard has managed to get Windows 11 running on just 184 MB of RAM, and it looks like it can actually run apps

A photo of the Windows update menu, showing that I’m all up to date

Windows 11 24H2 is the unwanted holiday gift that keeps on giving thanks to Auto HDR game crashes, audio device woes, odd bouts of stuttering and more

LatestWormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s vanSee more latest►

Latest

Wormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s van

Wormhole

Wormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s van

See more latest►

Most PopularThe Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcementsPath of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better lootPalestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 NakbaPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab

Most Popular

The Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcements

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

Palestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 Nakba

Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’

Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40K

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anything

If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off

AMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals