Volkswagen has partnered with gaming platform AirConsole to bring multiplayer gaming to the in-car experience for European drivers and passengers.
AirConsole offers a wide range of casual games, from racing and sports to puzzles and quizzes.
The German automaker plans to roll out the feature in the first European countries in September, with more to follow by the end of the year.
The vehicle range includes several EVs (ID.7, ID.5, ID.4 and ID.3) as well as the new Passat, Tiguan, Golf and Golf Estate, all of which will be available as hybrids.
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For safety reasons, the games will only be available while the car is parked, with Volkswagen aiming to provide entertainment while the car is stationary and charging.
AirConsole will be available on the vehicle's infotainment display, which will act as a gaming console, allowing users to use their smartphone as a controller.
To connect their mobile phone to the in-car AirConsole app, the driver or passenger scans the QR on the display screen. The platform supports multiple players playing simultaneously, but also allows for solo user play.
The company behind AirConsole is Zurich-based startup N-Dream, founded in 2015 by computer scientist and Google alumnus Andrin von Rechenberg.
The gaming platform has over 130 games and is available on desktop browsers as well as Google TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
AirConsole expands in-car gaming
Volkswagen is the second automaker Airconsole has partnered with, having inked a similar deal with BMW last year, and the startup also worked with Sony Pictures to release “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” in BMW cars last month using text-to-speech technology.
Analysts predict that the in-car gaming market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% between 2024 and 2032, reaching a value of $5.2 billion by the end of the decade.
