Apple is expected to make games one of the main selling points of its new Apple TV, set to be announced on 9 September, writes the New York Times, citing people briefed on the company’s plans. The previous version of the hockey puck-shaped product focused on streaming music and videos. The new one will deliver better graphics, a remote that doubles as a controller and an app store for games.
Most analysts and game industry executives do not expect Apple to win many Xbox One and PlayStation 4 users, as both are likely to have better graphics than the next Apple TV, which is expected to have an about USD 150 starting price. This is more than twice as much as the first version, but much less than the USD 300-500 price of traditional game consoles, depending on configuration and manufacturer.
The New York Times sees a potentially huge business opportunity for Apple, which currently makes nearly a third of its revenue from any game and other software bought at its app stores. According to PwC, the global games business will reach USD 75 billion annually, with over USD 27 billion coming from console games. Apple declined to comment.
