Fortnite as Mac native app, Mac Mini M4: Performance test (Re-upload: Accidental deletion)

Fortnite Mobile as a Native macOS app (using FnMacAssistant and Sideloadly).

Setup: Mac Mini M4 Base Model, macOS 26.1 Tahoe.

Settings: 2160p, max graphics settings possible.

FPS Performance Benchmark (code 5608-7013-5653) is used to do the benchmarks. It has 2 loops, 2:30 duration each.

Performance is locked at maximum possible values: 60 FPS with Epic quality , 120 FPS with Medium quality.

Since this is the Fortnite iOS version, a Mac Mini M4 provides more than enough performance. The performance is capped by the game and by the monitor's refresh rate.



Notes:

1. The app does not allow 120 FPS with Epic quality. And 120 FPS is only possible if the display's refresh rate supports it.

2. I also tried running Fortnite Android version using Bluestacks Air Emulator. Unfortunately, Fortnite (current version) detects the virtual Android environment and quits with a warning message!




How to install Fortnite as a Native macOS App:

1. Using FnMacAssistant app, download the tweaked IPA file of the iOS Fortnite app. The tweaked IPA is necessary for better keyboard/mouse support along with 120 FPS unlock.

GitHub page to download FnMacAssistant:
https://github.com/isacucho/FnMacAssi...

The app requires permission under Privacy/Security in settings to run for the first time, since it is unsigned. It has a very simple interface. It downloads the tweaked IPA file to the downloads folder.

2. The next step is to make a signed macOS native app from the downloaded IPA using Sideloadly.

Download page:
https://sideloadly.io/

Download the macOS version (DMG file), open it, drag Sideloadly to the Applications folder, and run it.

Drag the downloaded IPA file onto Sideloadly.


3. Sideloadly needs an Apple ID to sign the app. It may be a free-tier developer account (sign in using your Apple Account and accept the Apple Developer Agreement to register for free at developer.apple.com). Or it can be a paid developer account. Providing an Apple ID and pressing the Start button starts the operation. The native Fortnite.app is installed into the Applications folder if the operation succeeds.

4. Run the Fortnite.app once. It will crash (open and close). When this happens, run FnMacAssistant again (if it is not running already), press the Patch button, and it will patch the Fortnite.app. To complete this step, FnMacAssistant may require full disk access permission.

5. Now Fortnite can be run as a native macOS app.

6. Finally, game files need to be downloaded. The download system in the app is unfortunately broken (fails to finish the download). The easiest way is to download the current game archive as a zip file from the FnMacAssistant GitHub page.

Once the game archive is downloaded, click the "Import Archive" button in FnMacAssistant, then click "select" for the "com.epicgames..." in the list, choose"zip file," and show the downloaded game archive zip file. FnMacAssistant will import game files from the archive.



What is the catch?

Unfortunately, free developer accounts have some restrictions. The signed app expires after 7 days (re-signing is required, basically re-doing steps 2 to 4). And 3 apps can be used at a time.

Another downside is game updates, which also require downloading an updated tweaked IPA file and then re-signing.



Timeline:

00:00 Test setup
00:24 Graphics settings
00:43 60 FPS Benchmark
03:52 Part II and graphics settings (120 FPS)
04:34 120 FPS Benchmark
07:25 Results summary