Volkswagen channels Tesla with new take on iconic video game

Volkswagen has taken in-car gaming to a new level by repurposing the arcade classic Pac-Man for modern audiences.

The German auto giant has partnered with Japanese video game publisher Bandai Namco to create Pac-Man Championship Edition, a unique version of the 1980s smash hit game for VW infotainment systems that’s designed to entertain drivers and passengers alike.

More than 300,000 vehicles across several ID electric models, as well as the Tayron, Tiguan, Passat, and Golf, will have access to the new game, which is currently only available in Europe through the AirConsole in-car app.

Special elements of the Championship Edition include wheel rims as fruits, silhouettes of iconic Volkswagens from the Beetle to the fourth-generation Golf R32, and brands such as GTI and R.

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In a world first, in-game events and animations are also synced up to the lighting inside the vehicle, creating a truly immersive gaming experience.

Pac-Man Championship Edition can only be played when the vehicle is parked, and the player must have access to a smartphone which serves as the controller.

In-car gaming isn’t a new concept, and the technology has become more common since the turn of the decade.

Tesla is considered a pioneer in this space, having first launched its Arcade platform back in 2019. The Arcade interface removed the need for a third-party handheld gaming console by offering on-screen gameplay, a feature that’s now offered by other manufacturers.

For example, BMW owners can also access the AirConsole system, which houses popular games such as Uno and ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’.

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