Few things that may be of interest from a developers perspective:
- MetalKit, Apple's OpenGL alternative is a beast. The Apple TV won't compete with the power of PS4 and XB1 but it will perform better on these specs than some anticipate.
- Already established market for 3rd party controllers and games that support them. Will masses be willing to make that investment though?
- by far not just a gaming console. Also supports most TV streaming services and Apple Music. Add 3rd party apps (Spotify!), Apple TV as Homekit hub (rumored), and an Apple TV service (rumored) then there are lots of reasons for people to find it appealing.
Apple won't steal away any hardcore gamers, at least not this round, but an established game market on iOS with customers firmly in their ecosystem already, it will make an impact of some kind. Definitely it could expand size of people who are gamers by getting casuals back to their TVs.
Not all apps are freemium crap. There are lots of serious iPad games at $15-20 range. It's got a big strategy game market for instance. But you can get Transistor, Broken Age, Hearthstone, Telltale's games, Disney Infinity, Skylanders, XCOM, GTA: San Andreas, Batman Arkham Origins, Final Fantasies, Lego games, etc.. It has games. If universal apps, could even effect PS4 and XB1 indie market. Why pay more when Transistor for iOS is $5?
Ultimately though, if anyone should worry, it should be Amazon and Nintendo. Nintendo had sales drops regularly for handhelds after iOS games started catching traction. I could see consoles for casual games seeing similar fate.