PS2 Black on Mac reaches the first level in an experimental recompilation project published on October 7, 2026. Developer SirBraga managed to open the menu, play the videos, and load Level_00 on macOS with an Apple Silicon processor. However, the port does not yet allow for normal gameplay.
According to the author, the first level runs at only two or three frames per second on an M1 Pro. Therefore, the progress represents an initial technical milestone, not the release of a playable version of the classic shooter from Criterion Games.
PS2 Black on Mac already loads the first level
The project uses PS2Recomp to pre-convert the game code to ARM64. Additionally, the developer implemented custom runtime adjustments and a graphics output based on SDL_GPU and Metal, Apple's graphics technology.
The repository reports that the menu and videos reach approximately 24 to 30 frames per second. The keyboard and controller also respond in these stages, and the Tab key or Select button allows skipping videos. However, character control within the level has not yet been validated.
Original PS2 Black game image, used only as a visual reference; it does not represent the Mac recompilation. Source: Vandal.
Textures fixed, but performance remains low
One of the recent fixes involved the order of sending textures to the GPU. Previously, the runtime released several packets at once and ended up overwriting palettes that the game still needed to use. Now, the system respects the upload sequence, and the author states that the textures in the first room appear correctly.
On the other hand, the change did not resolve the slowness. The graphics upload queue still causes several-second freezes, and VU1 execution remains costly. Furthermore, the position of the weapon and camera at the beginning of the level still needs confirmation.
Scene from the original 2006 Black for PS2, gameplay reference only; not an image of the experimental port. Source: JeuxActu.
How the Black port for Apple Silicon is doing
The repository reports experimental support only for Mac computers with Apple Silicon chips. The author performed tests on an M1 Pro and has not yet demonstrated compatibility with Intel Macs, Windows, or Linux.
Furthermore, there is no ready-to-install release. The public code requires compiling the project, the indicated version of PS2Recomp, development tools, and files extracted from your own legally acquired copy of Black. The project does not distribute ISOs, BIOS, or proprietary game content.
Capture of the original PS2 Black to provide context for the project. This is not a capture of the macOS port. Source: LaunchBox Games Database.
What is missing for Black to become playable on Mac
The next goal is to reduce the volume of data sent to the GPU and avoid copying frames back to the CPU. At the same time, the developer needs to accelerate VU1 processing and validate controls within the first level.
This type of work also appears in other initiatives. For example, Allves Games followed the God of War PS2 recompilation that reached the menu on PC. Despite the similarity in approach, the projects are independent and have different results.
Thus, the news about Black should be understood as a demonstration of progress. The 2006 game has not yet received a native alternative ready for the public, but the source code of the experiment allows following the upcoming fixes.
Sources: SirBraga — official Black Recomp repository; README and development status.
