Native Vulkan support could also pave the way for a proper Mac version of DXVK. That could make Macs a lot more viable as gaming machines than they are now, even with the Rosetta 2 overhead.
As much as I like the idea of Linux being in a special position w/r/t emulation layers for Windows games, this makes a lot of sense to me as something that would be desirable to Valve, and might, like the Steam Deck, help bootstrap Proton+DXVK as a worthy target platform for game developers/publishers.
Valve supports Steam Deck/Proton that much because they are afraid of being killed by windows locking itself down, it's a live line for them, but not a supper profitable business.
A Steam for iOS & Android might be worth it for Valve, but for Mac it's like not worth the money it costs.
Additionally Apple is one of the main offenders pushing for a lockdown of PC platforms and one of the main lobbyist trying to prevent regulation requiring the possibility of (well working) 3rd party app stores. Which means not only would good Mac support be costly it also is constantly at risk of "defacto" being killed off. (Yes there are currently regulations for requiring 3rd party app stores, but it being theoretical possible and it being practically viable for a business are not the same.)
I'm not sure the original proposition was that Valve focus on making that happen:
> > I wonder if Apple will budge on their not-invented-here syndrome and allow for a real vulkan.kext on upcoming macOS versions
> Native Vulkan support could also pave the way for a proper Mac version of DXVK
I think the proposition was that if Valve lets it happen, other interested developers might be inclined to improve the situation enough that it's not so much extra work for Valve to add Mac support to Proton.
I'm not sure who all would be interested, but I imagine the motivation would be similar to whatever is keeping the MoltenVK developers going.
You're right that Apple provides an a hostile and precarious platform compared to Linux, of course.
