A long wait inside the car could have a new way of spending time. Volkswagen is preparing a feature that will allow using the central screen of several of its vehicles as a platform to play video games, although entertainment will have a cost after the test period.
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The proposal will be available in the United States for certain models in 2027, including Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan, Golf GTI, Golf R and ID.
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The system will operate using AirConsole, a platform that transforms the user’s phone into the control of the game.
AirConsole is officially live for the first @VW vehicles with ID. Software 5.0 and 5.2! ?? Plus, @TriviaCrack is now ready to challenge your knowledge during your drive break. pic.twitter.com/AKw1Rew7DH
Passengers scan a QR code and can use their smartphones as commands to play directly from the vehicle’s multimedia screen.
Volkswagen announced that there will be 20 games available initially, including Tetris, UNO Car Party! and PAC-MAN Championship Edition, as well as other games such as Golazo! and Memory Match.
Video games can only be used when the vehicle is stopped, so they will not be available while the car is running.
The experience will not be limited to placing conventional games on the screen.Some contents will have elements developed specifically for the brand’s vehicles.
A custom version of Pac-Man, for example, will incorporate references to Volkswagen and some of its models. The environmental lighting of certain vehicles will also be able to react to what happens during the parties, creating a slightly more immersive experience inside the cabin.
The company thus seeks to give the platform its own identity, rather than offering only a generic catalogue of video games.
Here’s the detail that can make some drivers think twice. AirConsole will be integrated within the In-Vehicle Premium Connected Services package, which may also include features such as Wi-Fi, advanced navigation and premium voice commands, depending on the vehicle.
Buyers of Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan or Golf 2027 will have three months of free access.
Therefore, anyone who wants to use the video games will have to keep the subscription active, even though the package also includes other connected features.
Volkswagen focuses mainly on those moments when the car is stopped. Waiting for an activity to end, taking a break during a trip, or staying at a charging station are situations where the system could make sense.
It does not intend to replace a traditional console, but does turn the screen that is already installed in the vehicle into something more than a hub for navigation and connectivity.
The arrival of AirConsole also shows how manufacturers are looking for new uses for the increasingly larger displays of their vehicles.
In the case of Volkswagen, the difference will be whether drivers consider that 20 games and an annual subscription are enough to justify turning the car, at least during the wait, into a small video game room.
