--- title: "Volkswagen Will Turn Cars into Gaming Consoles — with a Subscription and a Smartphone as a Gamepad" description: "Volkswagen is integrating the AirConsole platform into its US market vehicles, turning smartphones into gamepads and the dashboard display into a gaming screen." date: 2026-09-29T15:54:12.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/volkswagen-will-turn-cars-into-gaming-consoles tags: [volkswagen, airconsole, gaming, automotive, tech] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Volkswagen Will Turn Cars into Gaming Consoles — with a Subscription and a Smartphone as a Gamepad ![Volkswagen car interior with infotainment system supporting AirConsole gaming features](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/29/volkswagen-prevratit-avtomobili-v-igrovye-konsoli/volkswagen-prevratit-avtomobili-v-igrovye-konsoli-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Users' smartphones will be used as gaming joysticks. - Around 50 casual games adapted for the Volkswagen brand will be available at launch. - The feature only works when the car is parked for safety purposes. - The annual Premium subscription costs $149 and includes additional digital services. The automotive industry continues its active integration of entertainment digital ecosystems into everyday vehicle operation. The presence of advanced infotainment systems with large displays in modern cars has long attracted video game enthusiasts. While some manufacturers experiment with specific controls via the standard steering wheel, Volkswagen has chosen a different path for developing multimedia capabilities. ### Innovative Partnership with AirConsole Thanks to an official strategic partnership with the AirConsole platform, the German automaker will offer American buyers of its vehicles a unique feature. From now on, the vehicle's onboard monitor can transform into a real gaming console screen, while the usual smartphones of passengers and the driver can become full-fledged game controllers. This approach allows users to effectively utilize their existing gadgets without purchasing expensive specialized accessories. ### Game Library Features and Brand Integration At the project's launch, the ecosystem will support about 50 video games, mostly of a casual nature. Notably, some of the gaming projects have undergone deep stylistic adaptation to the Volkswagen brand identity. For example, in the iconic game Pac-Man, interface elements and in-game artifacts were replaced with the corporate logos and images of popular production models from the German concern. Moreover, several gaming scenarios even provide dynamic synchronization with the car's interior ambient lighting. ### Safety Conditions and Available Models The developers paid special attention to road safety: launching the entertainment application is possible exclusively when the vehicle is in a strict parking brake mode and fully parked. To connect, simply scan the QR code on the central display using a smartphone camera. Starting from the next model year, the innovation will become available in the US market for models such as the Volkswagen ID Buzz, Atlas, Golf GTI, Golf R, and Tiguan. ### Financial Terms and Premium Subscription Full access to the extensive entertainment library will require a special Premium subscription, priced at $149 per year. This service package also includes advanced online navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, an upgraded voice assistant, digital radio, and integration with the myQ Connected Garage service. When purchasing the listed models, the subscription is offered free for the first three months, while ID Buzz owners receive it for a full year at no extra charge. ### Contradictory Data Open sources and regional media show some discrepancies regarding the implementation timeline of this technology. For instance, some news publications indicate that the full launch of cars with integrated gaming consoles is scheduled directly for 2027, whereas initial technical specifications and model year specifics focus on vehicles of the upcoming model period in the US. In addition, some reviews mention the integration of specific retro games like Tetris, while the basic official presentation focuses on a general library of 50 projects via the AirConsole platform with brand customization. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Volkswagen превратит автомобили в игровые консоли — с подпиской и смартфоном в роли геймпада window-new](https://3dnews.ru/1149169/volkswagen-pozvolit-prevratit-smartfoni-passagirov-v-igrovie-kontrolleri) - Основной источник детального технического описания партнерства с AirConsole. - [Volkswagen превратит свои автомобили в игровые консоли с 2027 года](https://samaraonline24.ru/avto/view/volkswagen-prevratit-svoi-avtomobili-v-igrovye-konsoli-s-2027-goda) - Указывает смещение года в заголовке, учтено в блоке противоречивых данных. - [Volkswagen превратит автомобили 2027 года в игровые консоли с Tetris](https://mosregtoday.ru/news/soc/volkswagen-prevratit-avtomobili-2027-goda-v-igrovye-konsoli-s-tetris/) - Упоминает игру Tetris, что отличается от базовой линейки 50 казуальных игр, отражено в тексте. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How does turning a smartphone into a gamepad work in Volkswagen cars? **A:** To do this, you need to park the car, scan the QR code on the infotainment system display using a smartphone camera, and launch the AirConsole app. ### Q: Which car models will get this feature first? **A:** The feature will be available on the Volkswagen ID Buzz, Atlas, Golf GTI, Golf R, and Tiguan of the next model year in the US. ### Q: How much does the game subscription cost? **A:** Access to the game library is included in the Premium subscription costing $149 per year, which also includes navigation, Wi-Fi, and other services.