Michal Ždanský Turning the Apple TV into a cheap gaming console is far from a new topic. The possibility of installing third-party apps on Apple TV accessories has been rumored for several years, but so far we've only seen a few new official apps for some streaming services. The introduction of game controllers for iOS stirred up further speculation, and when we add the fact that the black box runs a modified version of iOS and the Apple TV itself also includes Bluetooth, supporting applications, especially games, seems like a logical step.
The server rushed in with an interesting message iLounge, which previously leaked information about the iPhone 5c and iPad mini months before their introduction. According to him, Apple TV should receive support for game controllers through a software update already in March:
iLounge has heard from reliable industry sources that the Apple TV will soon get official gaming support in an update likely to arrive in March or earlier. We've heard that developers are currently working on options for Bluetooth controllers, and it's expected that games will be able to be downloaded directly to the Apple TV instead of relying on another iOS device as an intermediary.
Even if that actually happens and the Apple TV does offer game support, one potential issue is the device's limited storage. It only has 8GB of flash storage, which serves the system and as a cache for streaming. The only option is for the Apple TV to download cached data from iCloud, which is not an optimal solution, as the speed at which games launch would be affected by the users' internet speed. It's also possible that Apple will release a fourth-generation TV accessory in the meantime, which, in addition to a more powerful processor (the 3rd generation includes a single-core Apple A5, the rainbow is turned off), will also have more storage for installing games.
Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac, according to his sources, Apple is expected to release the next-generation Apple TV during the first half of 2014, which coincides with the release of the update in March. Gurman notes that the App Store could be limited to games only, while apps as such would remain in first-party hands. However, it does not rule out an update for older generations as well, although it could bring new functions with some limitations due to insufficient hardware specifications.
Apple TV as a console would be an interesting alternative to Playstation, Xbox or Wii, and the presence of the App Store in general could mean more options for playing content, for example videos in non-native format from network drives (if Apple TV is not limited to games only). Steve Jobs himself he declared, that third-party apps for Apple TV are an option when the time is right. So will the fourth generation of the device be the solution to television that, according to Walter Isaacson's biography, Steve Jobs cracked open? We'll see maybe in a few months.
I believe and hope :-D I'll just sell the Apple TV 3 ... especially that it doesn't have the same memory concept and the same price as in iPhones ... because then only the version with 64 GB would be considered an option ... and it would cost 12 thousand :-D
With that price, it would be a fart. But I would expect that not to be the case, because everyone would rather buy a different game console, by the way, with significantly more storage space for a similar or even smaller amount.
I don't think the current AppleTV should support downloading the app directly. Just because of the lack of performance. If the new generation supported it, with the existing one being able to use the iOS device as an intermediary, then it would make sense. We'll see.