Future Prospects of Apple Console for Gaming

Apple is associated with dozens of tech items, but not gaming. That is quite surprising for a company that is well known for creating quality products while its operating system is one of the most stable we have around. However, Apple’s decision over the years to pay little attention to gaming explains why most gaming streamers often settle for Windows over macOS.

But things may turn around owing to Apple’s latest signals that they could be working on a gaming console. Reports suggest that the company is making moves that would see it enter into the competitive gaming space with its own console. One thing that remains unclear is whether the console will feature VR. Keep reading to the end to learn more.

Why Don’t We Have an Apple Gaming Console?

Before we dive deeper into this new development from the Cupertino-based tech company, let us first find out possible reasons why they are not yet in the gaming industry.

#1: They Have Done It in the Past and Failed!

This may come as news to some, but Apple has actually tried to create gaming consoles before. Unfortunately, they never succeeded.

The early 1990s are regarded as the period when console wars broke out. Different stakeholders such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft were keen to establish themselves as the kings of the industry. And so the war broke out.

Before iPhones and iPods were the order of the day, Apple also tried its luck in the tough industry. They did this through the Apple Pippin, a product that did not take long to rank as one of Apple’s worst releases.

Apple worked with Japanese toymaker, Bandai, to release a gaming console. They were focused on creating a product that could do four things:

• Play games
• Attract PC-based enthusiasts
• Play interactive music
• Function as an educational tool

From the onset, Pippin was meant to fail because it did not specialize in gaming alone. The reason for giving a single product many capabilities was so that they could ask for a higher price tag. When Apple rolled it out in 1996, the negative reviews and poor reception resulted in the product getting pulled out of the market within a year. However, it had a longer lifespan in the Japanese space, where Bandai supported for almost six years.

#2: The Video Gaming Market Seems Exclusive

When it comes to technology, there is a common argument that nothing is permanent. Whatever you may consider being the latest today could easily become obsolete tomorrow.

The current leading gaming console developers appear to understand this concept quite too well and are in stiff competition to always release the next big thing. Due to their continued innovativeness, Microsoft and Sony have made the video game market appear as though it is exclusively their playing field. It seems like most of the big names in the gaming industry are focused on going all-digital to be able to increase conversion rates by releasing captivating games and offering the best online casino no deposit bonus.

In the ’90s, Nintendo appeared to have taken over the industry. Sony and Microsoft noticed some gaps and capitalized on them to make Nintendo a second-choice from first. They achieved that by upgrading performance and graphics.

The industry has gone through decades of improvements. Getting other loopholes requires a close examination. That would mean newcomers like Apple must get a lot of talent and release a powerful console that would convince people to switch to it.

Please note that being a big company and entering the gaming market are two different things. Remember what happened with Google Pixel? Probably you have actually not seen a real Google Pixel in your life. In most cases, you will see Apple and Samsung. That’s because they have a firm grip on the market.

The same can be said for gaming consoles. The pioneers have set such high standards that have always made Apple think twice before venturing into it. It seems like they are done with the thinking and are ready to make the huge leap.

#3: iOS Is Made with Gaming in Mind

For a long time, Apple’s approach to gaming has always been focused on its iPhones. They have expressed the standpoint that most people are going mobile and would prefer playing games on a mobile gadget than one fixed at a particular location.

As far as Apple and gaming is concerned, they have made their iOS to be a major video game platform. Stats can tell you more about what’s happening. Smartphones account for a third of the global video game industry, out of which 50% of revenue comes straight from the iOS platform. The total number of iPhones sold per year is in tandem with the number of gaming consoles sold annually.

As they make moves to give gaming consoles another shot, it could be because Apple has realized the industry is worth their attention. How far they can go this time around is a matter of wait and see.

Apple Has a Good Chance of Moving to the Gaming Console Industry

Apple stands out as one of the few companies that could actually tremble the gaming industry if they were to start making consoles. They have 1.5 billion active iOS devices worldwide and 20 million registered developers. No other tech company has been able to raise such numbers. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo combined cannot even come close.

That could mean two things. For starters, they may decide to focus on bringing games to their community and care less about taking them to consoles. Alternatively, they may want to give their loyal fan base a taste of something new by venturing into the console market.

Let us not forget that Apple has already tested the waters without necessarily making it obvious. The iPhone and iPad, much like PlayStation and Xbox, contain technology capable of interfacing with a TV screen and controller. Of course, there is a difference in graphics, but they pretty much do the same thing.

The Case for Apple Making a Gaming Console

Ever since the failed 1996 Pippin console, Apple took a back seat on this product line. But a lot has changed for the company since then, experiencing monumental growth and recording one of the highest numbers of registered developers. It recently became the first company in history to be valued at $3 trillion net worth. But there is more to Apple that places it in the best position to start creating consoles than just the money. Let’s have a look.

#1: Apple Is Somehow Already in the Consoles Business

Even though not directly, you could be forgiven for stating that Apple is already making consoles, just not the conventional ones. There are very few differences in the experience of interacting with Apple TV and gaming consoles. Similarly, you may not notice much difference when a PlayStation or Xbox controller is connected to an iPad.

That raises an important question. Why should Apple care about dedicated consoles when its devices are almost there? Well, this question makes sense, but you will see the need for consoles when you look at how gaming on Apple devices currently works.

Mobile games are known for breaking when the device is updated to the latest operating system. That happened in the past when Apple stopped supporting 32-bit games. That left players in the cold if their developers had not updated the games accordingly.

Additionally, Apple devices deliver good performance, but they are not fine-tuned for gaming. Some of the hardware and software implementations to make these devices deliver their primary purpose ends up leaving them behind gaming consoles. That would not happen if Apple were to start making dedicated gaming consoles.

#2: Market Availability and Financial Strength

You cannot create a product when you are not sure who is going to consume it. Market availability refers to the people who are willing and able to buy your product. The two terms – willingness and ability – go hand in hand. That’s because there may be a market of people who are willing to buy but do not have the finances to do so. On the other hand, you could have a market of people who have the ability to buy but are not willing to do so.

Apple can easily claim that it has the potential market for its console because those enthusiasts about their products have the financial muscle and willingness to buy them.

Core gamers have always assumed that leading console providers such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo are making more money in the video gaming industry. However, a recent lawsuit by Epic Games against Apple has proved otherwise. Data revealed showed that Apple makes more than Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony combined. That means Apple has already established a solid gaming market even when it has not yet created dedicated hardware for that.

This year started off well for Apple. It was ranked as the first company globally to ever hit the $3 trillion mark. Apple can either be the most valuable or second-most valuable company every week. That means they have the money to create dedicated gaming consoles. The company would logically consider this as a way of expanding its line of business. As the iPhone and iPad have proven, Apple enthusiasts would always gladly embrace high-quality products that come from Cupertino.

#3: They Have the Hardware to Power These Consoles

Apple started by outsourcing most of the parts that powered its products. However, with the passing of time, the company became drawn more towards creating its own internal components.

This is an important consideration because very few companies make their own processors. Take Xbox Series X as an example. It runs on the AMD processor. The same is the case with PlayStation 5. Even most Android smartphones use Qualcomm processors. That goes on to show that even if most tech companies release certain devices, they are not the ones responsible for the chips that power their gadgets!

The same has always been true for Apple until recently when it started to make its own chips. In the 90s and early 2000s, its devices ran on the PowerPC G chips, which were created by Motorola. Other companies designed the CPU that powered earlier iPhones.

When Apple took over the design of its chips, the A4 chip being the first one, it was able to blend hardware and software into its gadgets. That resulted in more powerful devices that we have become accustomed to from Apple.

As of 2020, Apple had taken the game a notch higher to introduce the powerful M1 Pro and M1 Pro Max chipsets. These are used in iMacs and MacBooks. The company has a goal of moving its computers to the new chips.  

The M1 chip performance compares to Intel Core i7s and the i9s found in Intel MacBook. It also runs within the same threshold as the PlayStation 4. One of the things that makes this GPU stand out is its ability to operate without active cooling. Any core gamer will tell you that is a major win. For instance, Nintendo Switch, which pales in comparison, requires active cooling for steady performance while it remains power-intensive.

A detailed analysis of Apple hardware reveals that they have what they need to get into the gaming consoles industry. Since it makes this hardware in-house, the development cost is further reduced.

#4: Apple Has the Software Needed

You cannot claim to start making consoles when you do not have the required software. Apple does. The company has invested heavily to accommodate gamers and game developers into its software ecosystem.

A quick look at the App Store reveals that it has more of the same features as the Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop. Users have an avenue of purchasing games while the store receives a particular cut. App Store only differs from the rest in the sense that consoles allow users to purchase physical games.

App Store further makes things simple for gamers and developers by providing Apple Archade, a subscription-based game. That means more options for making money for developers and flexible payments for players. Even though this model does not equate to Microsoft’s Game Pass, it is quite a major factor in the mobile gaming space.

To further emphasize that Apple software is ready to go into consoles, you can see that some of the games available on the App Store run on similar engines as console games. They include The Talos Principle and Grid Autosport.

Conclusion

Everything that has to do with Apple making gaming consoles is a futuristic consideration. There are some indications that Apple is making moves in that direction, but that is not guaranteed. If it were to ever make this decision, the ecosystem is ready to receive an Apple console.