Porsche is the latest car maker to bring games to its wheels. The German automobile manufacturer teamed up with AirConsole to launch an in-car gaming experience.
Developed by the Swiss startup N-Dream, the AirConsole gaming platform has been available since 2023. For starters, it allows you to play games on the infotainment screen of your car without requiring any additional hardware. It currently has over 40 game titles released across different OEMs.
AirConsole focuses on short-session, casual games across various genres, including racing, trivia, party, and sports. While new games will be added in the future, Porsche will get a head start with the following games on AirConsole:
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? by Sony Pictures Television
- Overcooked by Team17
- UNO® Car Party! by Mattel, Inc.
"This collaboration will bring a curated library of casual, multiplayer games into Porsche’s entertainment environment, offering new ways for passengers to stay connected, engaged, and entertained either while parked or on the go, all controlled by their smartphones," AirConsole said in an emailed press release.
Gaming inside cars is now a growing trend across the automotive industry, aiming to offer something new to buyers. Through its partnership with Boosteroid, Mercedes-Benz lets users play PC games like Fortnite and Sea of Thieves inside their cars. Porsche and N-Dream will talk more about the upcoming in-car gaming experience at the IAA Motor Show in Munich, Germany, next month.
After launching AirConsole from the Porsche App Center, users can scan a QR code to add their smartphone as a controller. The platform supports both solo and multiplayer gameplay for up to five players, including the driver, when the car is parked.
Non-driving passengers can play games even when the car is on the road. While Tesla has been criticized in the past for allowing games while a car is in motion, the press release said that Porsche offers screen privacy features to prevent driver distraction.
Premium car makers like BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi have already adopted AirConsole for various car models. For Porsche, it will be available at the end of this year, starting with the new Macan. The gaming experience will be rolled out in all markets where Porsche Connect is available, except in China.
Images via AirConsole