Microsoft axes Minecraft for Apple TV, no one notices

Microsoft is throwing in the towel on the Apple TV permutation of Minecraft due to low user numbers, according to a splash screen that — ironically — has been displayed in-game for weeks without mention from mainstream media.

Microsoft ceased support for Minecraft on the Apple TV on Sept. 24, though users are still able to play the game for the foreseeable future. Users can continue to explore the virtual world and use in-app purchases, Microsoft said.

"We're grateful to the Apple TV community for their support, but we need to reallocate resources to the platforms that our players use the most," the splash screen reads.

That Minecraft lacked a vibrant player base shouldn't come as a huge surprise. The pop-up alert presumably appeared weeks ago, yet news of the game's discontinuation is only now making its way to media outlets.

The 10 year old mentioned it on Sunday. Didn't see the splash screen then but here it is... pic.twitter.com/XYQ2TirzM7
— mac-interactive (@macinteractive) October 9, 2018

Minecraft's demise is another nail in the coffin for Apple TV's gaming potential. That one of the world's most popular titles was unable to gain traction on Apple TV speaks volumes about the platform and its user base.

Some have criticized Apple for its inability to successfully market Apple TV as a casual gaming console.

When the fourth-generation Apple TV initially launched, Apple required all games support the Siri Remote as well as optional MFi controllers. This policy made it exceedingly difficult for developers to bring more complex games to tvOS, as the Siri Remote is severely limiting and even a bit slow.

Apple changed course and dropped the Siri Remote requirement in 2016, but AAA developers continue to shy away from the platform.

Gaming was never a major selling point for Apple TV, and Apple is seemingly content to let those prospects wither as it shifts focus back to video apps and a rumored first-party streaming service.

Minecraft remains available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

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32 Comments

commentzilla

said about 5 years ago

"mainstream media"

That a phrase used by right-wing extremists who want to delegitimise fact based news that doesn't line up with their ideologic nonsense.

Let's not go down that path.

I like Minecraft but is it really that big of a deal it's not on AppleTV?

bestkeptsecret

said about 5 years ago

commentzilla said:

I like Minecraft but is it really that big of a deal it's not on AppleTV?

From the perspective of the Apple TV, it kinda is. The fact is that there were hopes that the Apple TV would become a casual gaming console, but Apple made it hard.
Initially, there was the requirement that every game on the Apple TV had to work with the Apple TV Remote and not just dedicated controllers. That complicated things to quite a large extent.
Apple later removed that requirement, but it may have been a little late to do so.

The Apple TV is consolidating itself as a content streaming console and that is fine. It's just that there was potential that seems to have been squandered.
When the Apple TV launched with tvOS, I did try a couple of games on it. However, the limitation of the Remote as a controller was a deterrent and I stopped playing any games after the first week or so. I'm sure there are a lot of others like that.
Had Apple launched tvOS with a dedicated gaming controller, enough game developers would have invested more into the platform, thereby giving it Wii like credibility and making it the console of choice for casual gamers.

macapfel

said about 5 years ago

When the Apple TV launched with tvOS, I did try a couple of games on it. However, the limitation of the Remote as a controller was a deterrent and I stopped playing any games after the first week or so. I'm sure there are a lot of others like that.

Yes, there are. And never came back trying again and/or another one.

Absintheur

said about 5 years ago

I bought a Steelseries Nimbus and played games like Asphalt 8 and Leo's Fortune. Worked great, but clearly Apple have had a hard time convincing customers and developers of this. I can see why they didn't include a controller: That would brand the box as a gaming console, when selling media was clearly the first priority. But it's really a pity. I imagine adding Apple TV support for a iOS game that already have Mfi (as all games should have) can't be too difficult and being able to change between playing on phone, tablet and big screen would really be appreciated. It would be easy for Apple to add a good Mfi emulator to the Remote app for the TV, so a dedicated controller wasn't neccecary.

Grimzahn

said about 5 years ago

Absintheur said:

I bought a Steelseries Nimbus and played games like Asphalt 8 and Leo's Fortune. Worked great, but clearly Apple have had a hard time convincing customers and developers of this. I can see why they didn't include a controller: That would brand the box as a gaming console, when selling media was clearly the first priority. But it's really a pity. I imagine adding Apple TV support for a iOS game that already have Mfi (as all games should have) can't be too difficult and being able to change between playing on phone, tablet and big screen would really be appreciated. It would be easy for Apple to add a good Mfi emulator to the Remote app for the TV, so a dedicated controller wasn't neccecary.

Same here. While I am playing games on Apple TV, I am absolutely don't caring for Minecraft. Until now I wasn't aware M$ own this title.