diff --git a/SunPad.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/SunPad.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index cab04b3..eced61e 100644
--- a/SunPad.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/SunPad.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
 		BB0000000000000000000202 /* Assets.xcassets */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = folder.assetcatalog; path = Assets.xcassets; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		BB0000000000000000000203 /* Info.plist */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = text.plist.xml; path = Info.plist; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		BB0000000000000000000204 /* PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = text.xml; path = PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
-		BB0000000000000000000205 /* gGMSE01_recomp.dylib */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = "compiled.mach-o.dylib"; name = gGMSE01_recomp.dylib; path = Provisioned/appletvos/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
+		BB0000000000000000000205 /* gGMSE01_recomp.dylib */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = "compiled.mach-o.dylib"; name = gGMSE01_recomp.dylib; path = "Provisioned/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib"; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		BB0000000000000000000206 /* SunPadTV.app */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; explicitFileType = wrapper.application; includeInIndex = 0; path = SunPadTV.app; sourceTree = BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR; };
 		BB0000000000000000000207 /* tvOS Sys */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = folder; name = Sys; path = build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/Data/Sys; sourceTree = SOURCE_ROOT; };
 /* End PBXFileReference section */
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/include",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/Source/Core",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/GXRuntime/include",
-					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/build-tvos-appletvos-public",
+					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/build-tvos-$(PLATFORM_NAME)-public",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/fmt/fmt/include",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/Externals/picojson",
 				);
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@
 				);
 				LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATHS = (
 					"$(inherited)",
-					"$(SRCROOT)/apple/tvos/Provisioned/appletvos/libs",
+					"$(SRCROOT)/apple/tvos/Provisioned/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/libs",
 				);
 				MARKETING_VERSION = 0.1.0;
 				OTHER_LDFLAGS = (
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.sunpad.SunPad.tv;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = SunPadTV;
 				SDKROOT = appletvos;
-				SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = appletvos;
+				SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = "appletvos appletvsimulator";
 				TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY = 3;
 				TVOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 17.0;
 			};
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/include",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/Source/Core",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/GXRuntime/include",
-					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/build-tvos-appletvos-public",
+					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/build-tvos-$(PLATFORM_NAME)-public",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/fmt/fmt/include",
 					"$(SRCROOT)/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko/vendor/dolphin/Externals/picojson",
 				);
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@
 				);
 				LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATHS = (
 					"$(inherited)",
-					"$(SRCROOT)/apple/tvos/Provisioned/appletvos/libs",
+					"$(SRCROOT)/apple/tvos/Provisioned/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/libs",
 				);
 				MARKETING_VERSION = 0.1.0;
 				OTHER_LDFLAGS = (
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.sunpad.SunPad.tv;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = SunPadTV;
 				SDKROOT = appletvos;
-				SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = appletvos;
+				SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = "appletvos appletvsimulator";
 				TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY = 3;
 				TVOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 17.0;
 			};
diff --git a/apple/tvos/SunPadTVAppDelegate.mm b/apple/tvos/SunPadTVAppDelegate.mm
index 01da3af..fcfc7f8 100644
--- a/apple/tvos/SunPadTVAppDelegate.mm
+++ b/apple/tvos/SunPadTVAppDelegate.mm
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #import <GameController/GameController.h>
 #import <Metal/Metal.h>
 #import <QuartzCore/CAMetalLayer.h>
+#import <TargetConditionals.h>
 #import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
 
 #import "SunPadControllerMapping.h"
@@ -362,6 +363,7 @@ - (void)attemptStart {
                  buttons:@[]];
         return;
     }
+#if !TARGET_OS_SIMULATOR
     [self reconcileController];
     if (!SunPadTVHasExtendedController()) {
         UIButton *find = [self buttonWithTitle:@"Find Controller" action:^{
@@ -377,6 +379,7 @@ - (void)attemptStart {
                  buttons:@[find]];
         return;
     }
+#endif
     [NSFileManager.defaultManager createDirectoryAtPath:SunPadTVSupportRoot()
         withIntermediateDirectories:YES attributes:nil error:nil];
     SunPadSettings *settings = SunPadSettings.sharedSettings;
diff --git a/docs/TVOS.md b/docs/TVOS.md
index 1eda804..f3bbf8e 100644
--- a/docs/TVOS.md
+++ b/docs/TVOS.md
@@ -40,6 +40,18 @@ xcodebuild -project SunPad.xcodeproj -scheme SunPadTV -configuration Release \
 
 Package and audit the unsigned preview only after the app build succeeds.
 
+For the simulator gate, build and provision the same core and GMSE01 module for
+the tvOS Simulator before building the `SunPadTV` target:
+
+```sh
+./scripts/tvos-build-core-simulator.sh
+xcodebuild -project SunPad.xcodeproj -scheme SunPadTV -configuration Release \
+  -destination 'platform=tvOS Simulator,name=Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) (at 1080p)' \
+  -derivedDataPath /tmp/SunPadTVSimulatorDerivedData build
+```
+
+The simulator bypasses only the physical Extended Gamepad requirement. Device
+builds still fail closed until an Extended Gamepad is connected.
 ## Physical acceptance still required
 
 - Signed app installs and opens on a physical Apple TV.
diff --git a/scripts/check-repository.sh b/scripts/check-repository.sh
index 42a6c91..ed6c4f8 100755
--- a/scripts/check-repository.sh
+++ b/scripts/check-repository.sh
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ python3 tests/test_tvos_contract.py
 test -x scripts/package-ios.sh
 test -x scripts/audit-ios-package.sh
 test -x scripts/tvos-build-core-device.sh
+test -x scripts/tvos-build-core-simulator.sh
 test -x scripts/prepare-tvos-dependencies.sh
 test -x scripts/tvos-provision-device.sh
 test -x scripts/stage-tvos-game-data.sh
diff --git a/scripts/tvos-build-core-device.sh b/scripts/tvos-build-core-device.sh
index 60c7df7..65b371f 100755
--- a/scripts/tvos-build-core-device.sh
+++ b/scripts/tvos-build-core-device.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ ROOT="$(CDPATH= cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")/.." && pwd)"
 MG="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODERNGEKKO_ROOT:-$ROOT/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko}"
 TPL="$ROOT/ref/ModernGekko-Template"
 TOOLCHAIN="$ROOT/scripts/tvos-device-toolchain.cmake"
-BUILD="$MG/build-tvos-appletvos-public"
+SDK="${SUNPAD_TVOS_SDK:-appletvos}"
+[[ "$SDK" = appletvos || "$SDK" = appletvsimulator ]] || {
+  echo "unsupported tvOS SDK: $SDK" >&2
+  exit 64
+}
+BUILD="$MG/build-tvos-$SDK-public"
 MODULE_BUILD="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_BUILD:-/tmp/sunpad-module-tvos}"
 
 "$ROOT/scripts/prepare-tvos-dependencies.sh"
@@ -13,7 +18,7 @@ MODULE_BUILD="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_BUILD:-/tmp/sunpad-module-tvos}"
 CMAKE_COMMON=(
   -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$TOOLCHAIN"
   -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=tvOS -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR=arm64
-  -DCMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT=appletvos -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=arm64
+  -DCMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT="$SDK" -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=arm64
   -DCMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=17.0 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
   -DUSE_SYSTEM_FMT=OFF -DENABLE_QT=OFF -DENABLE_TESTS=OFF
   -DUSE_DISCORD_PRESENCE=OFF -DUSE_MGBA=OFF
@@ -21,7 +26,7 @@ CMAKE_COMMON=(
   -DENABLE_ANALYTICS=OFF -DUSE_UPNP=OFF
   -DMODERNGEKKO_ENABLE_DOLPHIN_TESTS=OFF
   -DENABLE_CUBEB=OFF -DENABLE_VULKAN=OFF
-  -DUSE_SYSTEM_LZ4=OFF -DUSE_SYSTEM_ZSTD=OFF
+  -DUSE_SYSTEM_LZ4=OFF -DUSE_SYSTEM_XXHASH=OFF -DUSE_SYSTEM_ZSTD=OFF
   -DHAVE_PIPE2=0 -DUSE_SANITIZERS=OFF
   "-DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=-ffile-prefix-map=$ROOT=."
   "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-ffile-prefix-map=$ROOT=."
@@ -56,7 +61,7 @@ fi
 cmake -S "$MG/vendor/dolphin/module-template" -B "$MODULE_BUILD" -G Ninja \
   -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$TOOLCHAIN" \
   -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=tvOS -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR=arm64 \
-  -DCMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT=appletvos -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=arm64 \
+  -DCMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT="$SDK" -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=arm64 \
   -DCMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=17.0 -DGAME_ID=GMSE01 \
   -DGENERATED_DIR="$GEN" -DGXRUNTIME_DIR="$MG/vendor/dolphin/GXRuntime" \
   -DCHASSIS_ABI_DIR="$MG/vendor/dolphin/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp"
diff --git a/scripts/tvos-build-core-simulator.sh b/scripts/tvos-build-core-simulator.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5d6330d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tvos-build-core-simulator.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(CDPATH= cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+export SUNPAD_TVOS_SDK=appletvsimulator
+export SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_BUILD="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_BUILD:-/tmp/sunpad-module-tvos-appletvsimulator}"
+exec "$ROOT/scripts/tvos-build-core-device.sh"
diff --git a/scripts/tvos-provision-device.sh b/scripts/tvos-provision-device.sh
index 94c4d81..9bc5b38 100755
--- a/scripts/tvos-provision-device.sh
+++ b/scripts/tvos-provision-device.sh
@@ -3,9 +3,15 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 ROOT="$(CDPATH= cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")/.." && pwd)"
 MG="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODERNGEKKO_ROOT:-$ROOT/build/tvos-deps/ModernGekko}"
-TVOS_BUILD="${SUNPAD_TVOS_BUILD:-$MG/build-tvos-appletvos-public}"
-MODULE="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_PATH:-/tmp/sunpad-module-tvos/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib}"
-OUT="${SUNPAD_TVOS_PROVISIONED_OUT:-$ROOT/apple/tvos/Provisioned/appletvos}"
+SDK="${SUNPAD_TVOS_SDK:-appletvos}"
+[[ "$SDK" = appletvos || "$SDK" = appletvsimulator ]] || {
+  echo "unsupported tvOS SDK: $SDK" >&2
+  exit 64
+}
+TVOS_BUILD="${SUNPAD_TVOS_BUILD:-$MG/build-tvos-$SDK-public}"
+MODULE_BUILD="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_BUILD:-/tmp/sunpad-module-tvos}"
+MODULE="${SUNPAD_TVOS_MODULE_PATH:-$MODULE_BUILD/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib}"
+OUT="${SUNPAD_TVOS_PROVISIONED_OUT:-$ROOT/apple/tvos/Provisioned/$SDK}"
 LIBS_DIR="$OUT/libs"
 
 [[ -d "$TVOS_BUILD" ]] || { echo "missing tvOS core build: $TVOS_BUILD" >&2; exit 1; }
@@ -60,5 +66,7 @@ done
 
 libtool -static -o "$LIBS_DIR/libSunPadCore.a" "${LIBS[@]}"
 cp "$MODULE" "$OUT/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib"
-vtool -show-build "$OUT/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib" | grep -Eq 'platform +TVOS$'
+platform=TVOS
+[[ "$SDK" = appletvsimulator ]] && platform=TVOSSIMULATOR
+vtool -show-build "$OUT/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib" | grep -Eq "platform +$platform$"
 echo "tvOS core and GMSE01 module provisioned: $OUT"
diff --git a/tests/test_tvos_contract.py b/tests/test_tvos_contract.py
index 203bf06..3d4a265 100644
--- a/tests/test_tvos_contract.py
+++ b/tests/test_tvos_contract.py
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ def test_target_and_metadata_are_project_owned(self):
         with (ROOT / "apple/tvos/Info.plist").open("rb") as handle:
             info = plistlib.load(handle)
         self.assertIn("TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY = 3;", project)
+        self.assertIn('SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = "appletvos appletvsimulator";', project)
+        self.assertIn("Provisioned/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/libs", project)
+        self.assertIn("Provisioned/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/gGMSE01_recomp.dylib", project)
         self.assertTrue(info["GCSupportsControllerUserInteraction"])
         self.assertEqual(
             info["GCSupportedGameControllers"], [{"ProfileName": "ExtendedGamepad"}]
@@ -57,7 +60,12 @@ def test_build_produces_core_and_tvos_module(self):
         self.assertIn("-DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=tvOS", build)
         self.assertIn("gGMSE01_recomp.dylib", provision)
         self.assertNotIn("Xcode-27", build + provision)
-        self.assertIn("platform +TVOS", provision)
+        self.assertIn("platform=TVOS", provision)
+        simulator = self.text("scripts/tvos-build-core-simulator.sh")
+        self.assertIn("SUNPAD_TVOS_SDK=appletvsimulator", simulator)
+        self.assertIn('SDK="${SUNPAD_TVOS_SDK:-appletvos}"', build)
+        self.assertIn("TVOSSIMULATOR", provision)
+        self.assertIn("#if !TARGET_OS_SIMULATOR", self.text("apple/tvos/SunPadTVAppDelegate.mm"))
 
     def test_device_workflow_preserves_scope(self):
         stage = self.text("scripts/stage-tvos-game-data.sh")