Mac OS X is known for its ergonomics, out of the box features, and its intuitive user interface. Sounds almost perfect for most people, but it isn’t all fun and games (literally). A lot of game developers prefer to compile their games for DirectX, Microsoft’s proprietary graphics API. Obviously, this means Mac OS X, which uses OpenGL is not supported. Not a big problem for regular users, but it’s definitely a deal breaker for casual and hardcore gamers alike.

Not anymore.

Valve, the game developer/publisher behind the Half Life Series, Left 4 Dead series, and many more, announced that Steam and the Source engine will soon be available on Mac OS X.

Valve has also announced a new Steam feature called “Steam Play” which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge. For example, Steam Play, together with the Steam Cloud, allows a gamer playing on their work PC to go home and pick up playing the same game at the same point on their home Mac.

It may just be one developer, but it’s a start. Other developers will most probably follow. To all Mac haters out there, have fun using the “Macs can’t play games” argument while it lasts.