4 methods the Apple TV 4K may change to make it a gaming vacation spot

Apple renamed Apple TV+ to Apple TV not way back, a choice that was buried in a press launch in regards to the film F1, however was nonetheless obtained 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 more durable 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 may very well be doing.

Possibly issues would really feel totally different if it did not seem 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 means the Apple TV 4K may enhance is as a spot to play video games. Not essentially by changing 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 may 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 option to launch video games

Apple launched the Video games app with the most recent launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 as a option to centralize the gaming expertise on its platforms. Apple Video games mixes Recreation Middle options like leaderboards and occasions, with a sport launcher for each sport you’ve got downloaded, and a sport discovery instrument. The app is especially highly effective on macOS 26 Tahoe, the place it will possibly acquire 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 front room 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, nevertheless it’s not almost as in-depth because the Video games app is, or may very well be, assuming Apple can get gamers to make use of it.

A method Apple may reveal its dedication to video games — and perhaps even make the expertise higher on the Apple TV 4K — is by porting the app over. That means, there is a centralized place the place gamers can begin and uncover video games, and think about the streamlined social options Apple has constructed. Possibly the corporate reimagines the Apple Arcade app, or perhaps it simply enlarges the iPadOS model for TV screens, nevertheless it would not essentially need to be an enormous carry.

There are methods the corporate may even encourage individuals to make use of it by opening the app any time a Bluetooth sport controller is related to the Apple TV 4K. It would not be that totally 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 via its “MFI” program, and formally launched assist for Bluetooth sport controllers in 2019, the identical 12 months Apple Arcade launched. Related 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.

These embrace issues like pulling up Siri, turning the Apple TV 4K on and off, and doing issues like adjusting the quantity on the TV itself. A few of these options may not be accessible to sport controllers due to the constraints of Bluetooth or a reliance on IR, however including them actually may make a distinction. It could not solely make utilizing a controller with an Apple TV extra handy, which may encourage individuals to play video games, nevertheless it may be 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 homeowners and Apple alike.

Use as a lot of that A-series chip as potential

Credit score: Apple / Pocket-lint

Apple launched Recreation Mode with the macOS Sonoma in 2023 as a option to higher reap the benefits of the efficiency of the M-series chips the corporate makes use of in its Macs. Recreation 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 operating a sport extra easily. Apple additionally doubles the Bluetooth sampling charge when Recreation 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 Recreation Mode to iOS a 12 months later with iOS 18 in 2024 with comparable options, and made it in order that it may very well be routinely enabled while you open a sport. This may be a very affordable software program function 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 Recreation Mode looks as if it may very well be adjusted to work.

Add a contemporary iPhone chip

Broaden the standard of video games that may run

Credit score: Apple

Past making tvOS extra environment friendly and game-friendly, Apple may 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 operating 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 current A-series chip just like the A17 Professional or A18 Professional looks as if a chance.

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 presupposed to assist Apple Intelligence and the upcoming revamp of Siri, however they may simply as simply be utilized to video games.

The Apple TV 4K is already virtually nearly as good for video games as an iPhone

It is easy to want for the not possible. Apple has all the apparent items obligatory to place collectively and make a console, aside from a video game-friendly interface and a willingness to work with sport builders. However sensible, small adjustments appear much more seemingly, and will have simply as huge of an impression.

The Apple TV 4K works nice as your default TV interface, and it is gotten loads higher because of tvOS 26, however there’s nonetheless room to enhance. A brand new model is the right 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.