Recently, certain information has emerged on Apple's development website that could point to an opening to use the Apple TV as a console in a future update that will be released imminently, since it will allow the entry of certain third-party apps that until now were banned.
Therefore, if you want to know more about this update, what it will consist of and how it may affect you as a user, we advise you to continue reading this article.
An update that will turn your Apple TV into the definitive low-cost console
We spoke a while ago in an article about the third generation Apple TV, assessing that technologically it was a product much superior to the competition such as the Chromecast TV.
And now with the changes that Apple will make with the next software update, this is going to go to a higher level:
Hello third-party streaming: GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass on your Apple TV
And our favorite Cupertino company has announced that they will finally open Apple TV can have third-party apps aimed at remote virtualization of a gamer PC, As is the case GeForce Now from Nvidia, Xbox Game Pass Microsoft or Amazon Moon, among other platforms that may arrive in the future.
This will open a new paradigm, since we will not only have access to the Apple Arcade catalog, being able to play any of the games on this platform stably in 1080p due to the power “muscle” that our Apple TV wields.
Full compatibility with plugins, ports and more
If we read the statement of January 25, 2024 from Apple's development website, we see that not only will these apps be allowed to be used, but also Mini games, chatbots and plugins related to these will be compatible, which further opens the range for indie developers who want to make games for this platform.
Of course, to be published they must pass the filters imposed by the App Store in terms of security, reliability and age classification of content. But apart from that, we would be counting on a more than noticeable expansion of the Apple TV's functionalities.
Is Apple TV going to replace consoles?
Let's be honest, although Apple TV may have included these services to be even more like a console, this is undoubtedly It won't be a big problem for Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo.
Since, although Apple TV has improved in terms of hardware, it is not designed specifically for games like consoles are. Consoles typically have dedicated, gaming-optimized hardware, which can allow for a smoother and more advanced gaming experience.
It's not that the hardware of the latest generation consoles is more powerful and that's it. (which it is), But here what differs is the very nature of the device itself: consoles are designed from the ground up with gaming in mind, meaning they offer a more gaming-focused user experience, with features like dedicated game stores, integration with online gaming services, and game-specific social features.
Who should fear Apple TV as a console?
I think that if anyone should be afraid of Apple TV as a console, it is all ARM-based console models, except for the Nintendo Switch. And in that aspect, we eliminated the Switch because it is "another thing": It has dedicated hardware, a beastly catalog and is backed by one of the three large consoles in the sector that play in a different category.
But there are a series of consoles that should fear the emergence of Apple TV in the gaming world: the Chinese consoles based on Android or Linux, which have Allwinner or Rockchip type chips and are aimed at the retro world.
Normally, the average price of these consoles ranges between 50 and 100 euros, but they are consoles that are really based on cheap TV Boxes and that include some emulators. An Apple TV at a competitive price could overshadow those consoles, because it has much more raw power and offers more for less, making it pointless to invest in less powerful hardware and without the multimedia advantages that the Apple TV 4K has.
Can we use Apple TV as a retro console?
Another question we may have about this is whether the Apple TV can be used as a retro console using emulators without having to cheat of using the developer options as we talked about in this other article about alternative markets.
And here we believe that things will get a little more thorny, because Apple has strict policies regarding apps that allow console emulation on their iOS and macOS devices, because often using emulators directly violates the copyright of the games, since you cannot ensure that the user has physically purchased the game and is not downloading a pirated ROM.
In any case, it will be interesting to follow the trail to see where the shots will go and if this route is definitely opened to use the Apple TV as an emulation console, in addition to all the uses of streaming and indie games that will already be assured.