diff --git a/mkxp.json b/mkxp.json
index 57e7268b..fde9c358 100644
--- a/mkxp.json
+++ b/mkxp.json
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@
     //     - Enables/disables the extra console window on Windows. It appears by
     //       default whenever mkxp-z is started in debug mode.
     // "MKXPZ_MACOS_METAL"
-    //     - Setting this to 0 will force the usage of OpenGL over Metal.
-    //       Probably not a good idea unless you have some kind of issue.
+    //     - Setting this will influence the rendering backend used.
+    //       Probably not a good idea to mess with it unless you have some kind of issue.
+    //       OpenGL is default on x86, and Metal is the default on Apple Silicon.
     // "MKXPZ_FOLDER_SELECT"
     //     - Allows the manual selection of the game's folder at startup.
     //       Only works on macOS at the moment.
diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index a3a2e4f0..2690c241 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -297,7 +297,12 @@ try { exp } catch (...) {}
     
 #ifdef __APPLE__
     // Determine whether to use the Metal renderer on macOS
-    preferMetalRenderer = isMetalSupported() && getEnvironmentBool("MKXPZ_MACOS_METAL", true);
+#if defined(__x86_64__)
+#define METAL_DEFAULT_SETTING false
+#else
+#define METAL_DEFAULT_SETTING true
+#endif
+    preferMetalRenderer = isMetalSupported() && getEnvironmentBool("MKXPZ_MACOS_METAL", METAL_DEFAULT_SETTING);
 #endif
     
     // Determine whether to allow manual selection of a game folder on startup