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Apple TV App Store adds Top Charts section, confirms popularity of games

When the new Apple TV launched last week, one notable omission in the tvOS App Store were Top Charts like we are used to seeing on iOS devices. The obvious reason for this omission seemed to be that Apple didn’t have enough data collected to populate top charts, but now that appears to have changed…

Users of the new Apple TV have noticed a new section in the device’s App Store that lists the Top Charts for tvOS applications. Just like on iOS, the Top Charts tab breaks down the Top Paid, Top Free, and Top Grossing applications.

As we noted this morning, the Top Paid charts are heavily dominated with games, a feature new to the fourth-generation Apple TV. The first place spot is held by Beat Sports, while Earthlapse TV, Galaxy on Fire, CARROT Weather, and Lumino City round out the top 5.

The top free apps are a mix of media apps and games, as you would expect with a set-top box. Rayman Adventures clocks in at the top spot, while Nat Geo TV, HBO Now, Crossy Road, and Fox Now finish up the top 5. For top grossing, Beat Sports again leads.

As Mayo elaborated on this morning, tvOS apps are certainly on the pricier said when compared to iOS apps. It remains to be seen if this is a trend that will continue or if prices will gradually fall. Top Charts are rolling out slowly to fourth-gen Apple TV units.

Thanks Scott!

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Comments

  1. jmantn - 8 years ago

    Im not seeing this yet on my Apple TV 4th gen. I restarted and force closed App Store but no dice here in the US

  2. robertsm76 - 8 years ago

    Will Apple Automatically load the TvOS updates like they use to do?

  3. michaelg379 - 8 years ago

    Is the categories page there now too?

  4. I want ask same .thanks

  5. o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

    Pricier apps are great, if they are worth being pricier. I mean a straight iOS to tvOS port shouldn’t be more expensive. Now if developers actually start making great games and porting more popular games worthy of a TV, then that will be amazing.

    Freemium = horrible, and detriment to gaming
    in-app purchase = horrible, and detriment to gaming
    Pay once and play even if expensive = best possible thing for customers

    One thing I think Apple should stop is allowing apps to remain on the App Store if developers don’t update them regularly, and if they don’t update them to support Apple’s latest major OS AND feature set like resolution increases, within 4 months of the OS release.The App Store is a great thing, but no longer should the proud statement be that you have X number of apps. It should be that all the apps on the store are regularly updated, and fully support the latest OS and latest features within 4 months of the OS. Frankly speaking, 99% of the apps on the App Store are garbage or apps that are not regularly updated and don’t support the latest OS or features.

  6. atcoleness - 8 years ago

    Is there anyone else who ordered the new Apple TV within the first few hours it was available who is still waiting for it to be delivered, or am I the only one?

    • surfingarbo - 8 years ago

      I ordered within the first ten minutes, and mine arrives this Wednesday. You’re not the only one! :)

    • twelve01 - 8 years ago

      Yep, arrives tomorrow

    • depicus - 8 years ago

      Picked mine up from Currys so no wait for me.

    • Peter Hillman - 8 years ago

      I got mine on Friday, and taking it back today for a refund.

    • gkbrown - 8 years ago

      Mine finally arrived very late yesterday (Fedex delivered it to the wrong house). >:-( The new remote is great and I like the new design a lot, but I’m disappointed in the game selection. I bought two of the Steel Series Nimbus controllers to go with it, and I haven’t been able to find a single two-player game yet. I bought the Asteroids game (which claims to support two controllers) but I couldn’t get it to work.

  7. Does anyone know if you have already purchased a game on an iPhone, is it free to download on tvOS? Or do you have to purchase again?

    • Alvaro Martinez - 8 years ago

      I ordered mines also during the first ten minutes that it was available for pre-order and i got mines on the 30th of October. I love my new AppleTV. I live in Michigan so I am unsure why some people still haven’t received theirs.

    • hayesunt - 8 years ago

      It probably depends on the developer and availability of a tvOS version, but under the purchased category, I had a few show up that I already had, including Badlands, and they were free. I have to say though, I think the developers need to work on it some, you don’t get much altitude when you push the button each time so about kill your finger trying to keep aloft…

    • Peter Hillman - 8 years ago

      No, you have to buy it again because iOS and tvOS are not the same.

    • atcoleness - 8 years ago

      Multiple videos have shown that previously purchased apps are free on the new Apple TV.

    • It depends on whether it’s a universal app available both for iOS and tvOS or it’s two different apps, one for iOS and another one for tvOS.

  8. Oliver Eichhorn (@oli61) - 8 years ago

    Top charts don’t really help. The charts will be dominated by the features apps, because all other apps are non-discoverable.
    Please, Apple, let us browse in categories like on all other iOS devices.

  9. Tiago Pedrosa - 8 years ago

    I prefer listening to radio and podcasts. myTuner radio has a wide variety of stations and podcasts – https://youtu.be/FA5W-u10asY

  10. Peter Hillman - 8 years ago

    Both of my new AppleTV4s are going back to Apple. Terrible interface and the new apps no longer have to follow the AppleTV UI. So you will have an inconsistent experience with every app. The Netflix app is worse than the app in the ATV3, and has less features than the SmartTV version, which it tries to be a carbon clone of. You cannot search or browse genres and highlighting a TV episode barely indicates you are hovering over it. The horizontal line of alpha characters for entering information is more time consuming than the square block on the ATV3. The remote has no way to tell if it is ‘up’, so in a dimly lit room, you will likely hit the wrong buttons. The floating cursor and swiping will likely land you on the wrong app or letter to select. Siri does not help much either. This new AppleTV is no better than the apps in a SmartTV. Nothing sets it apart. So that is why I would prefer to use the AppleTV3.

  11. Frank Meyer - 8 years ago

    what about “classic Fireplace”

    (made with studio equipment)

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com