Add support for Metal on macOS.

[squidbus]

Adds support for rendering using Metal on macOS. Builds on the work done in #1474, except based on the macOS support and upstream plume work in main and with a number of optimizations and bug fixes. Metal is now the default for macOS builds, with Vulkan using MoltenVK still an option if desired.

I've tested this with a full game play-through and ironed out the issues I've found, so opening this up as a PR for review and outside testing. Please make sure any reported issues are not bugs present on other rendering back-ends or high refresh rate bugs. For optimal performance you will need to be on macOS 15 or above.

Downloadable build (updated 12/12/2025): https://github.com/squidbus/UnleashedRecomp/actions/runs/20168952882

Requires XenosRecomp PR for MSL support: hedge-dev/XenosRecomp#22

[TheNachoBIT]

Thank you so much for this! :D
I've tried it and found no issues on the first two stages (so far, that are MacOS/Metal related). I've uploaded footage of this build running here.

[ethankimball360]

Is there a version of this for Intel Macs? I really like the idea and want to try it but I don’t have enough money to spend to buy an apple silicon Mac

[squidbus]

Is there a version of this for Intel Macs? I really like the idea and want to try it but I don’t have enough money to spend to buy an apple silicon Mac

It’s not currently planned from me (I think plume Metal doesn’t fully work on GPUs without unified memory currently?). Currently you should be able to play using Bootcamp though.

[ethankimball360]

I know that in march there was an intel version what happened to that?

[squidbus]

I know that in march there was an intel version what happened to that?

It did not work properly, which is why it was removed.

[ethankimball360]

Sad

[MrFerny]

Hey, I started a playthrough with this and the water is flickering in Apotos and its stages. It doesn't happen on Vulkan backend, though. I have a MacBook Pro M4 on macOS 26.1

[squidbus]

Hey, I started a playthrough with this and the water is flickering in Apotos and its stages. It doesn't happen on Vulkan backend, though. I have a MacBook Pro M4 on macOS 26.1

I can't replicate this on M4 Max, although with the latest macOS 26.2 Beta

[MrFerny]

Hey, I started a playthrough with this and the water is flickering in Apotos and its stages. It doesn't happen on Vulkan backend, though. I have a MacBook Pro M4 on macOS 26.1

I can't replicate this on M4 Max, although with the latest macOS 26.2 Beta

I found the cause. It only happens with antialiasing set to none. If I switch to either 2x msaa or 4x msaa water doesn't flicker. Tested on macOS 26.2 Beta 3

[squidbus]

I found the cause. It only happens with antialiasing set to none. If I switch to either 2x msaa or 4x msaa water doesn't flicker. Tested on macOS 26.2 Beta 3

Thanks, I can reproduce now so I'll take a look.

[squidbus]

To keep you updated, the issue was identified and I’m just getting the fix reviewed over in plume: renderbag/plume#67

Once that’s done I’ll update the submodule here.

[squidbus]

The flickering issue without anti-aliasing enabled should be fixed.