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Facebook, Google, other major developers decline to offer native Apple silicon apps at launch

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A number of major app makers, including Facebook, Google and Candy Crush Saga developer King, will not offer initial support for Apple silicon Macs at launch, according to a report on Monday.

Apple is widely expected to unveil the first Macs powered by its in-house A-series processors at a special event on Tuesday. The company has been working hard to get developers aboard the new platform, but some larger companies are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Because Apple silicon Macs run on chips bearing a largely identical architecture to those in iPhone and iPad, iOS developers can port their wares to the new Mac operating system with minimal effort. Apple is also allowing iOS and iPadOS app makers to offer apps through the Mac App Store. While some, like Netflix and HBO, have elected to do so, others have declined.

As noted by 9to5Mac, Facebook is not offering Apple silicon-native versions of its family of services, which includes Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Likewise, Google has declined to offer Gmail, Google Maps and Google Drive apps, while Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Snapchat will also be unavailable at launch.

Apple will designate apps that do not currently offer Apple silicon support with an App Store message that reads, "Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS."

It should be noted that developers can choose to post apps for review at any time, meaning the lack of native Facebook and Google apps could be temporary.

AppleInsider will offer live coverage of Apple's "One More Thing" event on Tuesday starting at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern.