Apple TV Games Must Support Bundled Remote

Apple has updated its Apple TV developer requirements for games. The company now states that all the games must work with the Apple TV remote. Previously it was mentioned that developers could also make games requiring support for third-party MFi-certified controllers, but not necessarily supporting the Apple TV remote.

"Your game must support the Apple TV remote. Your game may not require the use of a controller," says the company on its updated "Working with Game Controllers" developers page, as per Touch Arcade, which first spotted the change. Earlier the page included the topic - You Can Require an Extended Game Controller, and mentioned some guidelines under the same topic. It however said that requiring the user to utilise a third-party controller was "highly discouraged".

The Cupertino-based tech firm in its updated page says that the new requirements "are designed to make sure that games are always playable."

The Apple TV remote features motion controls via the gyroscope and accelerometer, and also includes a touchpad, apart from enabling voice-based search, playback, and navigation via two microphones for Siri. The remote also includes an IR transmitter, and Lightning connector for charging. Users can also utilise the iPod touch and iPhone as controllers

While the new Apple TV remote can potentially support several video games, the updated requirements might discourage developers to bring a video game with complex controls to the platform. We would have to wait and see if Apple again changes its developer requirements for Apple TV video games or if developers find a workaround.