Apple renamed Apple TV+ to Apple TV not way back, a call that was buried in a press launch concerning the film F1, however was nonetheless acquired with a good bit of fanfare. A easy title change should not essentially upset anybody, however individuals cared as a result of it made the distinction between the Apple TV app and Apple TV service tougher to grasp. Setting apart that silliness, although, I believe the continued curiosity in public bulletins of Apple’s leisure ambitions continues to exist as a result of it at all times seems like there’s extra the corporate could possibly be doing.
Perhaps issues would really feel completely different if it did not appear to be the corporate’s TV {hardware} is caught in second gear. The Apple TV 4K launched in 2022, however wasn’t a lot of a change from the field Apple was promoting earlier than. The discharge of tvOS 26 introduced Liquid Glass to the TV, however did not do a lot else. The obvious approach the Apple TV 4K might enhance is as a spot to play video games. Not essentially by turning into a sport console, however by adopting a number of the gaming options Apple is already exploring on smartphones and tablets.
With that potential in thoughts, listed below are 4 adjustments Apple might make to the Apple TV 4K to make it the gaming vacation spot it was born to be.
Port the Video games app
A sooner strategy to launch video games
Apple launched the Video games app with the newest launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 as a strategy to centralize the gaming expertise on its platforms. Apple Video games mixes Sport Middle options like leaderboards and occasions, with a sport launcher for each sport you have downloaded, and a sport discovery device. The app is especially highly effective on macOS 26 Tahoe, the place it will probably accumulate and launch each sport put in in your laptop, together with ones from different sport shops like Steam or Epic Video games.
Notably, the app is lacking from tvOS 26 on the Apple TV 4K. Apple’s lounge working system consists of an Apple Arcade app, which may recommend video games from Apple’s subscription service and even launch them once they’re put in, however it’s not practically as in-depth because the Video games app is, or could possibly be, assuming Apple can get gamers to make use of it.
tvOS 26 nonetheless appears to make use of and reference Sport Middle, regardless of Apple shifting to its Video games app with its newest software program releases.
A method Apple might exhibit its dedication to video games — and possibly even make the expertise higher on the Apple TV 4K — is by porting the app over. That approach, there is a centralized place the place gamers can begin and uncover video games, and examine the streamlined social options Apple has constructed. Perhaps the corporate reimagines the Apple Arcade app, or possibly it simply enlarges the iPadOS model for TV screens, however it would not essentially need to be a giant elevate.
There are methods the corporate might even encourage individuals to make use of it by opening the app any time a Bluetooth sport controller is linked to the Apple TV 4K. It would not be that completely different from how a press of the TV / Residence button on a Siri Distant pulls up the Apple TV app.
Give controllers the privileges of a Siri Distant
Apple has allowed tvOS to assist for sport controllers for years by means of its “MFI” program, and formally launched assist for Bluetooth sport controllers in 2019, the identical yr Apple Arcade launched. Linked over Bluetooth, an Xbox or PlayStation controller can navigate an Apple TV 4K’s menus, open apps and management playback of media, however they’re lacking some options that the Apple TV’s Siri Distant can do.
A few of these options may not be obtainable to sport controllers due to the restrictions of Bluetooth or a reliance on IR, however including them actually might make a distinction.
These embody issues like pulling up Siri, turning the Apple TV 4K on and off, and doing issues like adjusting the amount on the TV itself. A few of these options may not be obtainable to sport controllers due to the restrictions of Bluetooth or a reliance on IR, however including them actually might make a distinction. It could not solely make utilizing a controller with an Apple TV extra handy, which might encourage individuals to play video games, however it is also tied into different options that drive individuals in direction of Apple Arcade, like a hypothetical Apple Video games app. That is good for Apple TV 4K house owners and Apple alike.
Use as a lot of that A-series chip as attainable
Apple launched Sport Mode with the macOS Sonoma in 2023 as a strategy to higher benefit from the efficiency of the M-series chips the corporate makes use of in its Macs. Sport Mode adjusts the quantity of CPU and GPU sources background processes are allowed to make use of, in order that they are often put in direction of working a sport extra easily. Apple additionally doubles the Bluetooth sampling fee when Sport Mode is enabled to scale back the latency between Bluetooth headphones and controllers and your Mac, making inputs and audio much less laggy.
The corporate introduced Sport Mode to iOS a yr later with iOS 18 in 2024 with comparable options, and made it in order that it could possibly be routinely enabled if you open a sport. This could be a very affordable software program characteristic to port to tvOS as a result of the working system is already optimized to run on the A-series chips Apple makes use of on the iPhone. The latest Apple TV 4K makes use of an A15 Bionic chip that Apple final used on the iPhone 13.
Working iOS options on tvOS on the big, high-resolution screens in most dwelling rooms presents challenges, however Sport Mode looks as if it could possibly be adjusted to work.
Add a contemporary iPhone chip
Broaden the standard of video games that may run
Past making tvOS extra environment friendly and game-friendly, Apple might additionally simply make the Apple TV 4K extra highly effective with a brand new chip. The A15 Bionic provides loads of energy for streaming video, however isn’t fairly as succesful as what a contemporary iPhone runs. An iPhone 17 Pro working the A19 Professional can play video games as demanding as Murderer’s Creed Mirage. The identical goes for the M-series chips Apple makes use of within the iPad Professional and iPad Air. It appears unlikely that Apple would slap an M1 chip within the Apple TV 4K, however a latest A-series chip just like the A17 Professional or A18 Professional looks as if a risk.
In September 2025, Bloomberg reported that the brand new Apple TV would include a sooner processor and the N1 chip (used for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Thread) that was launched on the iPhone Air. The enhancements are imagined to assist Apple Intelligence and the upcoming revamp of Siri, however they might simply as simply be utilized to video games.
The Apple TV 4K is already nearly nearly as good for video games as an iPhone
It is easy to want for the unattainable. Apple has all the plain items essential to place collectively and make a console, apart from a video game-friendly interface and a willingness to work with sport builders. However sensible, small adjustments appear way more probably, and will have simply as large of an affect.
The Apple TV 4K works nice as your default TV interface, and it is gotten lots higher due to tvOS 26, however there’s nonetheless room to enhance. A brand new model is the proper probability for Apple to do one thing daring and put some oomph behind its gaming options in a spot the place they already make sense.
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