The last update to Apple's Mac Chess game prior to the recent announcement was in 2012, with the release of OS X Mountain Lion.
Before Apple switched to naming macOS updates after places in California, the company used big cat names as the theme. This started with the first public release of Mac OS X, which was named Cheetah. Subsequent updates included names such as Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion. The transition to naming the operating system versions after California locations began with OS X Mavericks in 2013.
The Chess app in macOS 15 beta has received its first upgrade since 2012, as reported by early users. The specific changes include shinier and more realistic-looking pieces, as well as a textured, gradient background. However, it is noted that the revamped game includes fewer themes, with the removal of a gritty-looking grass theme option.