Apple’s upcoming set-top boxes will support third-party controllers for gaming, which is good news for anyone (everyone) who doesn’t like gaming with a touchpad. But that still doesn’t mean you should expect hardcore games from your Apple TV.
In the App Programming Guide for tvOS, Apple outlines requirements for game developers — including, unfortunately, a requirement that all games work with the Siri Remote:
Your game must support the Apple TV remote. Your game may not require the use of a controller
tvOS games that support controllers must support the extended control layout. All controllers for tvOS are nonformfitting extended controllers
Games must be playable using standalone controllers. If you support an extended controller, the game must be playable solely with that controller.
The policy is understandable: Apple doesn’t want people downloading games that they then can’t play, because they don’t have the right controller. But equally, it’s limiting if every game has to be controllable with a touchpad.
[9to5Mac]
