Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac adds ProMotion support

Parallels virtualization software for Mac has released a new version today. As with most package updates, Parallels Desktop 18 adds support for new Apple hardware features, improves Windows virtualization, and expands compatibility.

Parallels Desktop 18’s two main features are ProMotion support and several new features and optimizations for Windows games on Mac computers.

As far as Windows games are concerned, the update is mainly about game controllers. macOS supported the Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 (called the DualShock 4) controllers for a while, and most recently Apple added support for the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller and an updated Xbox controller built for the Series S and Series X consoles. The next major release of macOS will be Added support for Nintendo Switch Pro controller and Joy-Con controllers.

With Parallels Desktop 18, you can now sync Xbox or PlayStation controllers to macOS on the host system and then immediately use them in a Windows virtual machine.

The Parallels team says that users can additionally expect a smoother Windows user interface and video playback, as well as higher frame rates.

Parallels Standard also improves x86 application compatibility for Windows 11 virtualization on ARM, as well as improves USB 3.0 support, with a focus on devices such as Elgato’s game streaming hardware.

In addition to the standard version, there are two more versions of Parallels Desktop: Pro and Business. Pro includes everything from stock, plus the ability to customize network conditions for virtual machines, the ability to use network boot with Linux ARM virtual machines, and a few other small additions.

Business includes everything from Standard and Pro, but adds some IT-specific features, such as deploying, provisioning, and migrating Windows 11 virtual machines on Macs in your organization, and logging into Parallels with a corporate account with SSO/authentication. SAML.

Version 18 of Parallels is available now with the regular pricing model of $99.99 for an annual subscription with continuous updates or $129.99 for a perpetual license specifically for this version. You can add $20 to upgrade from Standard to Pro and another $20 to upgrade from Pro to Business. There is also a $69.99 perpetual license upgrade for Standard.