The new Apple TV 4K, unveiled this week, comes with a redesigned Siri Remote with a physical clickpad, new power and mute buttons for the TV, and a repositioned Siri button. But two features are missing.
According to Digital Trends, the new Siri Remote lacks an accelerometer and gyroscope, which allowed the original Siri Remote to function as a gaming controller. Apple even required tvOS games to support the Siri Remote after the fourth-generation Apple TV was launched, but dropped that requirement in June 2016. Due to the lack of an accelerometer and gyroscope, the new Siri Remote will not be compatible with all Apple TV games. Instead, users will need to use the original Siri Remote or connect an Apple-certified gaming controller. The following message appears on the Apple TV when opening a game that does not work with the new Siri Remote. This is according to tvOS 14.5 code, which MacRumors contributor Steve Moser discovered has:
Siri Remote: Gamers prefer controllers
To play this game on your Apple TV, you will need to connect the Apple TV Remote (1st generation) or a compatible PlayStation, Xbox, or MFi controller.
Note that the Siri Remote is called the Apple TV Remote in countries where Siri is not available on the Apple TV: But the remote is otherwise identical in terms of functionality. Gaming on the Apple TV has always been niche compared to full-fledged consoles like the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Most users who play tvOS games probably prefer a real game controller anyway, so the lack of an accelerometer and gyroscope in the new Siri Remote probably won't be a dealbreaker for many. (Image: Apple)
