The updated Siri Remote for Apple TV does not have an accelerometer or gyroscope. As a result, the device cannot be used as a motion controller in certain Apple Arcade video games. The Apple website confirms this information. The aforementioned motion sensors are missing from the product specifications page.
The old remote control has an accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope in the specifications. As the resource MacRumors, rummaging in the code of the tvOS 14.5 operating system of the TV box writes, an attempt to launch a game incompatible with the new remote control will result in the following error message: “To run this game on your Apple TV, you need to connect the Apple TV Remote (first generation) or compatible PlayStation, Xbox or MFi controller. “
The Verge resource writes that the lack of motion sensors in the new remote control is upsetting. Especially considering that the new Apple TV was expected to be more focused on gaming as Apple Arcade is evolving into a truly compelling, self-contained gaming subscription service today. However, in recent years, Apple has shifted its focus towards more traditional game controllers. The company stopped requiring game developers to implement Siri Remote support as a gamepad in June 2016, just a few months after introducing it with its 2015 Apple TV set-top box. In June 2019, Apple TV got support Xbox One and PS4 gamepads. With the new PS5 controllers and the Xbox Series X and Series S, the TV box is expected too.