Neil Hughes
Last Friday's debut of the fourth-generation Apple TV also brought with it tvOS and a dedicated App Store, with games proving to be the most popular paid apps at launch, new data reveals.
Unlike on the iOS App Store, Apple didn't include a list of the top paid, free, and grossing apps for tvOS. But Slide to Play found that Apple has made some data available, though it was characterized as somewhat "unreliable."
Still, the data provides perhaps the best look into what's selling thus far on the Apple TV, and unsurprisingly it's motion-control-based "Beat Sports" — which was showcased heavily at Apple's September event — Â that tops the paid charts. In all, nine of the top ten paid apps are games, with only video streamer "SimpleX" cracking the top apps.
Things are slightly different in the "Free" category, where streaming apps like "HBO Now," "Nat Geo TV" and "Fox Now" are in the top five. But the top two free apps — Â "Rayman Adventures" and "Crossy Road" — are still games, and "Asphalt 8: Airborne" also cracks the top 10.
Many of the top free apps were built-in options on the previous-generation Apple TV, even though there are many new options — Â 1,025 as of Sunday evening. The lists were first spotted by MacRumors.
Some options on the Apple TV App Store are universal downloads, meaning users can pay once and get the same title for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Other developers have opted to make new TV-only versions of their existing iOS apps, allowing them to charge again for users who want the convenience of playing across devices.
Because of the closeness between iOS and tvOS, apps can offer cross-platform syncing via iCloud. This means gamers can start a title at home on their Apple TV, then continue playing where they left off on an iPhone or iPad on the go.
Beyond "Beat Sports," the other most popular paid games for Apple TV are:
- "Galaxy on Fire — Â Manticore RISING"
- "Lumino City"
- "Alto's Adventure"
- "Does not Commute TV"
- "Battle Supremacy: Evolution"
- "Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved"
- "Shoot the Zombirds"
- "Oceanhorn"
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Sponsored Content
28 Comments
My AppleTV's are coming tomorrow...I like the prospect of playing a game on any Apple device and pick up where I left off...seems if they can get the quality of the games where they need to be this could be the "holy grail" of gaming...
No brainer their. Off course new Apple-TV has cemented it's position as mid-tier, casual gamers go-to console. So, Games dominate paid downloads in Apple TV App Store is just another validation. Everyone knows it.
The graphics are amazing.
This's why the 64-GB version was sold out in a few hours at Apple stores. I picked up a 32GB since I couldn't wait for online order to arrive today.
I bought mine yesterday and while very new and few games available, this Apple TV Rocks!! It has tremendous potential. Beach Buggy Racing is like Mario Cart and works almost the same. Asphalt 8 is a lot of fun as well. I have even played the iPhone/iPad game "10 pin shuffle Pro" and like it a lot. It makes the game more communal, if that makes sense. If you are a hard core gamer this will not fit your needs / desires (Yet) but for the casual gamer which WII built its business on, this is the gaming console for you. Siri is also a key feature. Ask her the temperature or who won last nights game and it pops up along the bottom while still allowing you to watch what was on. A few complaints with Siri. Not all games or apps are linked to her (yet) so when you ask for "Trailers" She doesn't understand. This version of Apple TV will be a huge hit for Christmas!! This is the TV platform that everyone has been waiting on.