Could next ATV feature M1 SoC as gaming console?

[TigeRick]

There is rumors about Apple developing gaming console and controller for a while. As current ATV 4K already use A15 as SoC, I think Apple could use M1 to create new product category like Arcade Edition.

Of course, Apple will set higher price but I believe sweet point would be around $200...this put new ATV as direct competitor to Xbox Series S.

What do you think about ATV Arcade Edition???

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Games aren’t nearly on the same level obviously so unless Apple starts moving over their native triple AAA title’s combined with M-series chips it’s going to be a hard sell.

However, if enough folks use the game developer toolkit and tweaking for Metal becomes super simple I could see Apple creating a game console with M-series chips to compete with MS, Sony, and Nintendo but that will easily be 5+yrs given if looking at Apple’s current lineup/roadmap. Ultimately it’s about the relationship between developers and Apple. I would be curious how long it took for Death Stranding to be reworked as that would give us solid insight.

 

[bozzykid]

Apple is never going to care about making a gaming Apple TV. Their focus lately has been on making the Apple TV cheaper not more expensive.

 

[JayKay514]

There is rumors about Apple developing gaming console and controller for a while. As current ATV 4K already use A15 as SoC, I think Apple could use M1 to create new product category like Arcade Edition.

Of course, Apple will set higher price but I believe sweet point would be around $200...this put new ATV as direct competitor to Xbox Series S.

What do you think about ATV Arcade Edition???

I for one would welcome it. I've played a few Apple Arcade games on my last-gen ATV 4K (particularly loved The Pathless) and while it doesn't offer AAA console graphics, it's a perfectly fine platform.

I feel like Apple Arcade's true competitor isn't the Xbox or PS5 but the Nintendo Switch. I think when Apple Vision comes to a more reasonable price point, we'll see it expand into motion and gesture-controlled gaming like with the JoyCons. It'd be interesting to see games developed cross-platform that can run 2D or 3D.

It's arguable that an iPad mini or recent iPhone basically is a Nintendo Switch, especially as you can pair them with a wide variety of controllers, and you can either play on the go or dock / AirPlay to your TV. The current iPhones are definitely more than a match for it in CPU and GPU power. There's no reason why it couldn't run something like the latest Zelda; I wonder, however, if it could run something using all the bells and whistles in Unreal Engine 5 .

If Apple decides to leverage its popularity in mobile gaming they really could win a chunk of marketshare (I mean, they sort of already do, but they don't lean on it per se).

What would be cool is a Wii-like dual or multiscreen / player experience where what you see on your 'controller screen' is related to the main game on your TV, and I'm kinda sure there are already frameworks within iOS that could let you do that.

 

[Salt City Ute]

I’d be down for a gaming Apple TV. I’d want to see more developer support, and it would be cool to be able to use an iDevice as a second screen like JayKay suggested above.