The company has announced that from 2023 it will offer the AirConsole car gaming platform developed by the Swiss company N-Dream in some of its cars.
This gives passengers the opportunity to pass the time while waiting in their vehicle mindlessly. Stephan Durach, senior vice president for Connected Business Development at the BMW Group, said the technology can make waiting for your vehicle to charge “an enjoyable time”. As BMW and others move to electric vehicles, automakers will launch services to entertain passengers during extended charging periods.
Larger screen size for AirConsole gaming
As automakers install larger screens in vehicles, they have followed the traditional characteristics of big screens. Tesla introduced Passenger Play a few years ago, allowing people to play video games through the infotainment system, and BMW is joining the fray with its own line.
BMW explained that the AirConsole platform works well with the curved screen available on models like the iX crossover. While details are scant, it doesn’t look like your BMW’s game requires investing in hardware mods; The games are streamed live in the car, run through the infotainment system, and are designed to be played with a smartphone as the controller.
How many games will be available on BMW’s curved screen?
According to the AirConsole website, the main focus is local multiplayer gaming experiences. It offers more than 185 PC game titles, but it’s unclear how many of them will be available on BMW’s curved screen. Games include titles like Let’s Cook Together, Mega Monster Party, and GoKartGo! Air!, 8Bit Fiesta, Burning Rubber 5 Air, and many other casual games. You won’t find titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, or Call of Duty on the service.
It is not clear what capacity motorists and their passengers can perform in a BMW. AirConsole lists over 185 games on its website, including classics like checkers, Mario Kart-style racing games, and a casino simulator called Drunk Casino. We don’t know which BMWs will support in-car gaming, but the company told Autoblog that the new 7 Series would be one of the first cars to adopt the technology.
AirConsole gaming requires processing capabilities
“AirConsole gaming requires processing capabilities that can only be achieved through a head unit hardware upgrade, which will first be available on the new Series 7 and will ship to other models from 2023,” he confirms. a BMW AirConsole spokesperson. on Autoblog.
In addition to the Big 7, it is reasonable to assume that this technology will be available in electric cars from BMW. Nothing is official, but you’re more likely to want to spend your time gaming while waiting for an i3 to load than speeding through Laguna Seca in an M3.
BMW will launch car sets in 2023. Pricing information and additional details will be announced in the coming months.
