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Mac Gaming? Use an M1 iMac as Display for Xbox PlayStation Nintendo

12:03 video

The theory goes that Macs aren’t good for gaming: they lack the hardware and graphics cards, and publishers have given up on the platform. But none of that matters if you can connect an existing game console to your Mac.

A couple of weeks ago, a commenter wished Apple had included an HDMI input on iMacs, MacBooks, the Mac mini and Mac Pro for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S and X, and UHD/Blu-ray players, as for many (a dorm student or a teenager who doesn’t want to take the family TV) this is the only large-screen device. That got me thinking: can I connect a console to the iMac with HDMI in?

The device

After a little research, I bought the Elgato HD60 S+, a small HDMI capture device that takes HDMI in and outputs via USB to a computer (it also has an HDMI out for another display). It’s made for recording gameplay and streaming, and I’m not interested in streaming or recording (I’m really bad at games), but a single device on your desk that’s your computer, entertainment hub and gaming hub with one display sounds cool. I used to play a lot of first-person shooters and Grand Theft Auto on the PS2, PS3 and Xbox One, and all the original Nintendos and PlayStations, though not much in recent years.

Setup

  1. Plug the HD60 S+ into the iMac and connect the Xbox’s HDMI to it. It comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable; because the iMac only has USB-C and Thunderbolt ports, I used a USB-C to USB-C cable (link in the description).
  2. On elgato.com, go to Downloads, choose HD60 S+ for Mac and the Game Capture software. It’s not an installer: drag it to the Applications folder.
  3. Open it and grant camera and microphone permissions.
  4. In the Game Capture HD window, switch from the default Screen Link source to Game Capture HD60 S, where the Xbox is connected: the Xbox interface appears and the controller works.
  5. In settings (the gear in the top right), choose an input device preset (I chose Xbox), allow 60 fps for video preview, and optionally adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and audio gain. I used a 1080p profile.

Anytime the HDMI connection changes, the configuration window appears briefly, then goes away and expands to full screen.

Gameplay

I tried Call of Duty: WWII (I got my butt kicked, but got a couple of people). The gameplay is very smooth: no lag, full 60 fps, and no delay between controller input and the screen. Although the Xbox One X can output 4K, this capture card only does 1080p at 60 fps, with no 4K or HDR, and that’s pretty much all you need. I get annoyed by any lag or stutter: I tried Xbox Cloud gaming on the iMac and iPad and it was awful, with lag from any movement, so I’d notice and tell you.

I also tried Super Lucky’s Tale, a good family game that I bought for my daughter and reminds me of Mario 64.

Sound

The HDMI carries sound, so the iMac’s built-in speakers play it. They may not be the bassiest you’ve heard, but they’re very clear and good for game audio, and you can control volume from the keyboard.

Nintendo Switch and other devices

A Nintendo Switch works the same way: full 1080p and very good sound, so you can play Mario Kart with an iMac as your display. Connecting something like a Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick or Blu-ray player is the problem: HDCP causes an error, and you can’t play protected content. I did get Netflix from the Xbox app to play with no HDCP error, but a Roku gave the error.

It also works with a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or any other Mac; I tried it on my Intel iMac as well.

Verdict

The Elgato HD60 S+ lets you console-game on a Mac with any console using HDMI: 1080p at 60 fps and great sound from the built-in speakers, and you can add external speakers or monitors. It answers the original comment: yes, the iMac can be your only screen for computing and entertainment. Is this something you’d try, or is there a better capture card?

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

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