First third-party is an odd phrase
Hey, do you want to play games on your Apple TV using a controller that has physical buttons and a more standardized video game controller layout? Well, good news, third-party controllers are starting to pop up for the device, and existing MFi controllers will work too.
The Nimbus, by SteelSeries, is a Bluetooth controller that has 2 analogue sticks, a directional pad and four face buttons. Retailing for $49.95, the controller charges by Lightning connector and apparently has a 40-hour battery life.
So, does the presence of a traditional controller help sell the Apple TV as a games device? For me, the big question comes down to what percentage of games on the marketplace feature controller support.