Steam to end support for older macOS on Jan 1

Steam users on Apple computers will need to update their MacOS to keep playing next year.

Gamers using Apple computers should add "upgrade macOS" to their New Year resolutions, as game store Steam phases out support for older macOS. 

Steam says it will stop supporting macOS versions 10.7 Lion, 10.8 Mountain Lion, 10.9 Mavericks and 10.10 Yosemite starting Jan 1, 2019.

"This means that after that date the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of macOS. In order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through Steam, users will need to update to a more recent version of macOS," it says. 

The phasing out is due to Steam Client's reliance on an embedded version of Google Chrome which no longer functions on older versions of macOS, plus features and security updates only present in macOS 10.11 El Capitan and above.

Steam says that though its Client can still launch games on older macOS for the remainder of 2018, certain other functions will be affected.

For example, the new Steam Chat service will not be available. 

The latest macOS, 10.14 Mojave are compatible with the following Apple products: MacBook (Early 2015 or newer), MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer), MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer), Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer), iMac (Late 2012 or newer), iMac Pro (2017) and Mac Pro (Late 2013 plus Mid 2010 and Mid 2012 models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards).

Apple says the upgrade is free and accessible to any computer running macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion or later. It recommends users to back up their machines before upgrading.