Revision 4

Overview

The macOS version of inZOI launched on August 20, 2025, alongside the Update #2 Island Getaway content update. The Mac version is a native Apple Silicon build optimized for Apple's Metal graphics API and Core ML machine learning framework, bringing the full inZOI experience to macOS without requiring emulation tools like Wine, Parallels, or CrossOver. Mac players had access to all three cities (Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya) from day one.

Launch and Announcement

inZOI's Mac launch was announced at Apple's WWDC 2025 developer conference, highlighting the game's adoption of Apple's latest graphics and AI technologies. The Mac version launched the same day as the Cahaya DLC city, meaning Mac players started with more content than PC players had at their March 2025 Early Access launch. The announcement was part of a busy August 2025 for inZOI, which also included the PlayStation 5 announcement on August 13 and the Island Getaway DLC reveal at Gamescom on August 19.

Distribution

The macOS version is available through the Mac App Store. It shares the same content and update schedule as the Windows version. All patches, DLC, and seasonal updates arrive simultaneously on both platforms. The game requires a one-time purchase; there is no separate subscription for Mac players.

System Requirements

Intel-based Macs are not supported. The game requires an Apple Silicon processor and macOS Sequoia 15.0 or later.

M1 Support Status

At launch, the Mac App Store listing caused confusion by stating M2 as the minimum requirement while elsewhere listing M1. In practice, M1 Macs initially received an error message stating the game was 'only compatible with chips from M2 onwards.' However, a subsequent update restored M1 support, and the game now runs on M1 chips at minimum settings. The initial restriction was related to specific Unreal Engine features tied to M2 architecture, not raw processing power.

Supported Technologies

Smart Zoi on Mac

The Smart Zoi AI system, which uses a Small Language Model on Windows with NVIDIA GPUs, runs through Core ML on macOS. This means Mac users have access to the same AI-driven behaviors, inner thoughts, diary system, and adaptive scheduling regardless of not having an NVIDIA GPU. Core ML processing is available on all supported Apple Silicon chips, so Smart Zoi works on every Mac that can run the game.

AI Creation Tools

The built-in AI features are all functional on the Mac version through Core ML:

• AI texture generation: Create custom clothing and item patterns using text prompts.

• 3D Printer: Convert 2D images to 3D objects for use in Build Mode.

• AI motion and emote creation: Generate custom animations from video or image input.

• Facial Capture: Use the Mac's built-in camera through MetaHuman Live Link Face to map real facial expressions onto your Zoi in Creative Studio.

Performance by Chip

Performance varies significantly across Apple Silicon generations. The game is graphically demanding, and even recommended hardware may require settings adjustments.

MetalFX Upscaling is recommended for all configurations to maintain smooth performance, even on higher-end chips.

Known Issues

Mac players have reported several issues since launch:

• M3 Pro optimization: Some MacBook Pro M3 Pro (18 GB) users report the game barely exceeding 20 FPS despite exceeding recommended specs. The game defaults to medium graphics on these systems. Manual settings adjustment and enabling MetalFX may help, but the optimization for M3 Pro specifically remains a community concern.

• Thermal throttling: MacBook Air models (M1 and M2) experience thermal throttling during extended play sessions due to fanless design. Performance degrades after roughly 15 to 30 minutes of continuous gameplay.

• Settings mismatch: The game's automatic graphics detection sometimes assigns settings that do not match the hardware tier. Manual graphics configuration is recommended for the best experience.

Optimization Tips

• Enable MetalFX Upscaling in graphics settings for a significant performance boost with minimal visual quality loss.

• Reduce shadow quality and texture resolution if frame rates are low. These settings have the largest performance impact.

• Close background applications to free unified memory, especially on 16 GB systems.

• Use a MacBook Pro or Mac Studio over a MacBook Air for sustained performance. The active cooling makes a substantial difference during long sessions.

• If using an external display, lower the render resolution. Driving a high-resolution external monitor alongside the built-in display increases GPU load.

Comparison with Other Platforms