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Sketchy Rumor Claims Apple Developing Nintendo Switch-Style Gaming Console
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So you can play the ****** little games On the App Store lol
Apple would have to either be willing to have their brand be associated with gritty games, or they’d need to develop a whole stable of mascots like Nintendo has.
I don’t see either happening.
I do see a third possibility. What if the Switch Pro uses the M2 chip from Apple? This costs Apple nothing - they’re already planning on building hundreds of millions of them. This is just an extra revenue stream for Apple.
Maybe in the process, Nintendo would bring some of their games to the Mac? That shouldn’t harm Nintendo’s console sales and should just be an extra revenue source for Nintendo...
I don’t see either happening.
I do see a third possibility. What if the Switch Pro uses the M2 chip from Apple? This costs Apple nothing - they’re already planning on building hundreds of millions of them. This is just an extra revenue stream for Apple.
Maybe in the process, Nintendo would bring some of their games to the Mac? That shouldn’t harm Nintendo’s console sales and should just be an extra revenue source for Nintendo...
Apple have no understanding of this market, and they would do badly in it.
(And before people go "Apple has a huge share of spending in gaming" - that's for whale lead microtransaction gambling in mobile titles. The audience overlap for people want those games and people who would know or care what ray tracing is is very, very small. If we start to see loot boxes more heavily regulated (and that seems inevitable at this point) Apple's share of that market will collapse. But Apple Arcade does not seem to be a remotely sustainable alternative, nor does it suggest they can scale up to AAA gaming experiences.)
Apple's literally just totally abandoned the gaming market with the Mac, a product with much better margins than a mobile console would have. But they're doing a AAA focused ray tracing machine? Nah.
(And before people go "Apple has a huge share of spending in gaming" - that's for whale lead microtransaction gambling in mobile titles. The audience overlap for people want those games and people who would know or care what ray tracing is is very, very small. If we start to see loot boxes more heavily regulated (and that seems inevitable at this point) Apple's share of that market will collapse. But Apple Arcade does not seem to be a remotely sustainable alternative, nor does it suggest they can scale up to AAA gaming experiences.)
Apple's literally just totally abandoned the gaming market with the Mac, a product with much better margins than a mobile console would have. But they're doing a AAA focused ray tracing machine? Nah.
Feels similar to the Apple “Gaming system” rumors from last year. I’d have to see what they have coming as far as Apple Silicon graphic performance before I’d make a call on that.
Does your opinion include the Steve Jobs’ puck mouse? Because, I believe most people ditched that prior to using it, or VEERY shortly after using it, meaning they didn’t even get 3 months use.
Sketchy indeed but what if this was the rumoured AppleTV Pro with more powerful CPU?
If it's a handheld console could we see a binned M1 CPU going into it with, say up to 2 primary performance cores disabled? Or take it the other way and it's an A15X CPU with more graphics cores?
I wouldn't have thought that Apple would make a special deal out of a gaming orientated machine by going out of their way unless they were starting to see M1 CPUs with faulty cores in sufficient numbers to use - for the sake of example.
For me this smacks of an iPad mini refresh, especially with the rumoured bigger screen - 8.5-8.9" for example.
If Apple keep it as a non Pro product they would put a lightning port on it and call it the refreshed iPad mini with A14 CPU - or they could stick a declawed M1 into a similar enclosure - 2+4 cores instead of the usual 4+4 - and call it the iPad Pro Mini 8.9" with USB-C charge port (not Thunderbolt). Although I guess at this point you could debate whether or not it's a Mini, an Air, or a Pro.
It all rather depends on the supply chain. I wouldn't mind seeing another iPad switching to USB-C personally.
If it's a handheld console could we see a binned M1 CPU going into it with, say up to 2 primary performance cores disabled? Or take it the other way and it's an A15X CPU with more graphics cores?
I wouldn't have thought that Apple would make a special deal out of a gaming orientated machine by going out of their way unless they were starting to see M1 CPUs with faulty cores in sufficient numbers to use - for the sake of example.
For me this smacks of an iPad mini refresh, especially with the rumoured bigger screen - 8.5-8.9" for example.
If Apple keep it as a non Pro product they would put a lightning port on it and call it the refreshed iPad mini with A14 CPU - or they could stick a declawed M1 into a similar enclosure - 2+4 cores instead of the usual 4+4 - and call it the iPad Pro Mini 8.9" with USB-C charge port (not Thunderbolt). Although I guess at this point you could debate whether or not it's a Mini, an Air, or a Pro.
It all rather depends on the supply chain. I wouldn't mind seeing another iPad switching to USB-C personally.
It’s true that an iPhone + controller is similar (more powerful and capable in a lot of ways, in fact). But only one of the platforms lets me play Breath of the Wild.
Gaming systems attract big games better than phones or tablets. It doesn’t make sense per se, but it’s the market.
I just wish I could get the power of one of Apple's chips in my Switch. I don't think Apple should do their own version.
Yeah, Apple stomps the Tegra, both 1 and 2. Perhaps Nintendo may see this as an opportunity to produce their own CPU’s as well?
Probably too much “cost” in that R&D for them to do, but a chip specifically tweaked for Nintendo IP’s would be cool.
They should release an iPad accessory that connects wired to a TV. And there you go. A Switch.
$14.99 adapter on amazon, base iPad $425.85, PS5 controller $68.00, case for Tabletop mode $12.99.
And you get a good browsing experience + thousands of other uses. And with Apple Arcade a lot of games.
Now Nintendo just need to stop being dumb and support apple devices.
$14.99 adapter on amazon, base iPad $425.85, PS5 controller $68.00, case for Tabletop mode $12.99.
And you get a good browsing experience + thousands of other uses. And with Apple Arcade a lot of games.
Now Nintendo just need to stop being dumb and support apple devices.
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Yep. I'd bet a custom processor is for a new AppleTV Pro/Arcade. I certainly believe that Apple will leverage their mobile gaming experience to sell a broader gaming initiative, building upon Apple Arcade. Seems possible that they could develop a separate dock/controller for iPhones and iPads, although I have a hard time picturing it. It'd be a challenge to design a controller that adapts to different screen sizes. I'd expect some sort of wireless or magnetic connection if iPhones are truly going port-less.
Why would Apple want a physical docking/controller? If they are really developing a controller for a gaming AppleTV, I guess a docked controller would bring feature and experience parity to the mobile gaming experience. I just don't see them developing a one-trick-pony Switch-like device. I'd assume they'd want games playable across their ecosystem, where they might have a competitive advantage.
I also take issue with the "Apple doesn't get gaming crowd". They clearly have bigger plans for Apple Arcade. I think Apple has simply not been interested in build big, hot, noisy, and expensive gaming rigs and consoles; and certainly not at a loss. Historically those machines are what has driven AAA gaming. My bet is that this all changes with Apple Silicon and, to some extent, their AR/VR ambitions. The high-end gaming market will continue to grow and I can't see Apple leaving that money on the table and such a glaring whole in their ecosystem.
This wasn’t my idea, was a rumor from awhile ago, but I could believe either
a) an iOS hardware device made in conjunction with Nintendo that only loads/plays Nintendo Switch games, or
b) Nintendo licensed hardware (controllers) that are required to communicate with any Nintendo application
Both extreme edge cases, but as Nintendo has historically wanted to tie their IP’s to their hardware, these would be optional devices to extend the Nintendo eShop further, but still in Nintendo’s control.
Even if they release it, there’s no way it will be successful. Nintendo has a stranglehold on the handheld gaming market.
Seems hard to believe that they would use a dedicated processor when it would make more sense to build that tech into the next gen A/M chips. Not to mention that I don't know any PC or console 'gamer' that gives two sh*** about Apple Arcade on the iPhones and iPads and Apple TVs they already own - why would they buy even more Apple stuff?
Is it tho. That’s like the thing if you wanna play games you get a windows machine if you wanna get something done you get a Mac
Develop a reasonably sized (not too big not too small) high-quality soundbar product, bundle it with the new and improved Apple TV remote. Offer first party gaming controllers as optional add-on. Give it M1 processor. Pay AAA game developers billions to bring exiting AAA game titles to it and to develop new AAA titles for it. Call it Apple TV Pro. Price it at a price affordable to humans. Give in a HDMI port and give it HomePod and HomeKit functionality where it can function as a speaker and HomeKit hub even when TV is off.
AAA Games console. Sound Bar. Apple TV. Are you getting it yet? These are not three separate devices.
Heck, release it alongside a TV that also has M1, a soundbar built in and does all the same things. Those who want a fully integrated and a truly minimal Apple experience and setup can buy the TV product from Apple, and those who wish to add Apple TV Pro to their existing setup to get improved TV audio experience, a fancy HomePod speaker for the living room and an advanced Apple TV gaming and entertainment experience for their existing TV can do so.
Apple TV ($149)
Apple TV Pro ($399/499)
Apple Television ($1,999/2,999)
AAA Games console. Sound Bar. Apple TV. Are you getting it yet? These are not three separate devices.
Heck, release it alongside a TV that also has M1, a soundbar built in and does all the same things. Those who want a fully integrated and a truly minimal Apple experience and setup can buy the TV product from Apple, and those who wish to add Apple TV Pro to their existing setup to get improved TV audio experience, a fancy HomePod speaker for the living room and an advanced Apple TV gaming and entertainment experience for their existing TV can do so.
Apple TV ($149)
Apple TV Pro ($399/499)
Apple Television ($1,999/2,999)
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Nintendo makes their systems based on the gaming experience they want to convey. Unless Apple is cheaper than nvidia and provides middleware dev tools as good as, I don’t see why they would switch.