New Apple TV's First Third-Party Gaming Controller Revealed

While the controller Apple is including with the latest iteration of Apple TV is more akin to a Wii Remote, third-party companies will be able to support the device's expanded game offerings with more traditional controllers.

The first of these, The Nimbus, is developed by SteelSeries and is a Bluetooth controller that will retail for $49.95. The controller will offer up 40-plus hours of battery life, and is equipped with a Lightning connector for quick charging.

It features the familiar directional pad and four face button format, and also has two analogue sticks placed next to each other at the bottom, much like the PlayStation DualShock controllers.

The controller's buttons are pressure sensitive to provide precise control and a menu button is included to allow for quick navigation.

The Nimbus will launch with a companion app that gives users "instant access to charts listing the top free and paid controller-enabled games" and "also keeps your controller up-to-date, and makes sure it's always compatible with your devices."

A list of detail specifications and look at a image of the controller can be found below.

Dimensions

• Width: 150 mm (5.91 in)
• Height: 110 mm (4.33 in)
• Depth: 63.2 mm (2.49 in)

Connectivity

• Bluetooth v4.0

Box Contents

• Controller
• Quick start guide
• SteelSeries stickers

Key Features

• Lightning connector for rapid charging
• 40+ hours of battery life
• Lithium ion rechargable batteries
• Pressure sensitive buttons for precise control

The new Apple TV comes with a touch and motion enabled controller. At its reveal event, Rock Band developer Harmonix announced a new game for it called Beat Sports, which combines sports and music.

Activision has also confirmed that Guitar Hero Live, Skylanders SuperChargers, and Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved will all be playable on Apple TV. Geometry Wars 3 will also come to the new iPad Pro.