Is Apple looking to wrestle control of the living room away from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo? Many Industry analysts are expecting the Cupertino, California based tech giant to make a play for the console gaming market with the next iteration of its Apple TV streaming device.
The company already has a strong gaming presence in the handheld market, thanks to its smartphones and tablets, but the family entertainment center is still very much the domain of traditional video game consoles like the Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U.
That may all change soon though. At Apple's big event scheduled for September 9, many expect the company to unveil a new $149 dollar Apple TV that comes bundled with an upgraded remote that can function as a gamepad.
Techcrunch reports that the new remote will be motion sensitive, hinting at possible Wiimote like functionality. It will also have physical buttons, a microphone for Siri command issuing, and an overall more substantial build quality. The device will also feature support for more fully featured Bluetooth gamepads so players can have console quality control over their games.
The new Apple TV will also ship with the company's latest operating system, iOS 9 so users will get all the upgrades the update brings.
Dedicated gaming machines like the Playstation and Xbox still have the edge when it comes to top tier software releases. Don't expect the latest Grand Theft Auto or Metal Gear Solid to be coming to Apple TV anytime soon, but as a cheap media center that doubles as a casual gaming device, Apple's latest surely has it's merits.
To see what else Apple has in store, check out their big event via livestream on September 9.
