Tesla is Going to be Jealous of Audi's New In-Dash Gaming

Miami Herald

5 hours ago

A core memory that I have from my childhood was that nearly every summer, my family would load up our cars and hit the road on hours-long road trips to vacation destinations within and around the northeast. However, this was the early and mid-2000s; the iPhone was years away, and the best built-in in-car entertainment technology at the time was the flip-out DVD players that came on the top-of-the-line versions of minivans like the Chrysler Town and Country and three-row SUVs like the Honda Pilot.
Of course, we had none of that. On those trips, I hoped to heaven that my iPod would have enough juice to drown out my mom and my sister shouting directions from a Mapquest printout. However, it's the 21st century, and new digital solutions are keeping passengers from saying 'Are we there yet?'
These days, big 'ol screens are in our faces 24/7, and they even dominate the dashboards of our cars. However, Audi is taking advantage of that fact and using it to transform the typical, boring car ride into a shared digital experience with the launch of AirConsole, a gaming platform available in select Audis. As the name suggests, AirConsole is a virtual video game platform that enables occupants to play games directly on the vehicle's infotainment screen by using their smartphones as controllers.
This feature is now offered through the Audi Application Store in Audis equipped with Android-based infotainment systems, including the Audi A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron. Once inside the car, players can connect their phones by scanning a QR code on the infotainment screen, which will instantly turn their devices into wireless controllers. Passengers can then enjoy solo or multiplayer sessions on the central display, or, in models equipped with a passenger screen, even keep the games going while the vehicle is in motion. Thanks to Audi's dynamic privacy mode, gameplay stays out of the driver's view to avoid distraction.
The available game catalog is expansive, with new additions arriving regularly. These include puzzle, trivia, and even fast-paced party games, like UNO Car Party!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and Pictionary Car Party, which will be available exclusively to Audi drivers through the end of 2025.
Audi's adoption of AirConsole reflects a broader trend in the automotive industry, where automakers find new ways to make cars into personalized digital 'homes away from home.' Although Audi is new to the AirConsole platform, other luxury brands have already adopted it. BMW was the first automaker to integrate AirConsole into its lineup, introducing the feature in its 7 Series and later expanding it to other models, including cars in its MINI brand.
However, Tesla pioneered in-car gaming in 2019 with Tesla Arcade. Unlike AirConsole, which features less graphic-heavy, multiplayer-friendly games, Tesla Arcade has more graphic-heavy games and supports external Bluetooth controllers such as those for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Tesla's game catalog includes recognizable titles like Cuphead, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Beach Buggy Racing 2, which even allows players to steer using the actual steering wheel when the car is parked.
In the release about this feature, Audi says that AirConsole is another addition to the Audi Application Store, which already has other interactive apps like Spotify, YouTube, and the sports streaming platform DAZN. Personally, I think this sort of integration is kind of cool, though I probably won't be able to fully use it unless I am driving actual children in the car on an extended road trip, or if someone else is driving.
Today's kids have it made, but I do think there's a hidden benefit with this sort of integration. The games available on AirConsole include Uno and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which require thinking and, most importantly, encourage active communication while playing. Say what you will about kids and their phones, but I'd rather be in a car full of energy and interaction than one where each occupant is silent and in their own world.
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