Will the new Apple TV lure gamers away from consoles?

Apple will likely be talking about a new Apple TV box at an event on September 9, and trade publication 9to5 Mac says that the fourth-generation box will be the first Apple living room device that actively competes with video game consoles thanks to new hardware, software, and peripherals all targeted at gamers.

In an article published today, 9to5 Mac writer MarK Gurman cited sources with knowledge of the product saying that the new Apple TV will actively compete with Microsoft’s Xbox One, Nintendo’s Wii U, and Sony’s PlayStation 4 game consoles. Some of this may be wishful thinking on Apple’s part, but you can’t deny that Apple has disrupted the handheld console market (think Nintendo’s line of DS and 3DS systems) with its App Store, iPhone, and iPad products. I’ve thought about some of the consequences if Apple really does plan on this new marketing approach.