The Mac online game matching and chat service GameRanger recently announced plans to cease support for Mac OS 9.
GameRanger enables players of Mac freeware, shareware and commercial games to find each other online. The system’s basic service is free, but GameRanger also offers a premium service that adds additional features like voice support for an annual fee.
The software first appeared for Mac OS 9 and has continued to be updated and improved over the years. Mac OS 9 has been deprecated, however — GameRanger notes that Apple itself discontinued development of Mac OS 9 more than four years ago.
GameRanger’s cessation of support for Mac OS 9 means that the client software itself will end support for booting in Mac OS 9, though games will continue to be supported in the Classic environment.
GameRanger Technologies called the evolution “an essential and necessary step in moving forward to support the Intel-based Macintoshes.”
The company added that “the exact date has not yet been set, but this notice serves as a warning to any remaining Mac OS 9 users that they will need to upgrade to Mac OS X to continue using GameRanger.”