Apple’s flip-flop on game controllers for Apple TV might be bad news for developers, but it’s great news for gamers.
It’s a virtual guarantee that all games will work better out of the box when running on the refreshed Apple TV, which will have its own App Store for the first time.
While the company originally said it would let devs require third-party “made for iPhone” controllers for their games, Cupertino now says all games for the refreshed set-top box must work with the new Apple TV remote.
“This is a very smart move from Apple,” says Brianna Wu, game boss and harassed feminist critic. “These kinds of policies help build consumer faith in their ecosystem, meaning more sales for developers overall.”
If you’ve ever played a PC game on Windows, you know it’s a pain in the butt to figure out what controllers will work, first of all, and what drivers you’ll need. Even Nintendo’s incredibly popular Wii had way too many controller devices to be an easy choice for gamers, and don’t even start with the Kinect.
One of the biggest early criticisms of iOS touch-screen gaming was the lack of console-style controllers. However, when Apple created a whole set of code to support them, consumers still didn’t buy them in droves. And seriously, touch-enabled (or casual) gaming is making a lot of people a ton of money without any controllers in sight.
“I don’t expect these controllers to become popular until Apple ships one,” says Wu.
The thing is, Apple is constraining game developers in order to provide a better experience for the type of consumer that will want an Apple TV who isn’t a hardcore gamer. If someone like me purchases an Apple TV for games, then Apple is fine with developers providing support for the more complex Xbox or PlayStation-style game pads, but they don’t want to ruin non-gamers’ entry to this fragile new ecosystem.
“That has never been the Apple way of treating consumers, nor should it be,” says Wu. “Normal people aren’t going to want to buy a $20 controller just to play an iOS game.”
