Toronto, Ontario — A new partnership between BMW and mobile gaming startup AirConsole represents yet another foray for the auto industry in bringing play to the passenger seat.
Starting next year, BMW owners will be able to access a library of mini games from the central display of their vehicle through AirConsole’s on-the-go gaming platform.
If readers have any familiarity with the Jackbox series of party games, where players join the game on an external device using a room code, AirConsole functions essentially the same, but features its own line-up of Nintendo-esque platforming and racing games controlled via the player’s smartphone.
In Tuesday’s press release announcing the partnership, the BMW Group described the AirConsole as being a “perfect fit” for the standard BMW curved display, and remarked on how access to simple and quick entertainment in vehicles affects the driver experience.
“With AirConsole we will leverage innovative technologies combined with a broad variety of fun and multiplayer games. This will make every waiting situation inside the vehicle, such as charging, an enjoyable moment,” said senior v-p of connected company development at BMW Group, Stephan Durach.
To avoid following in the footsteps of Tesla and its lukewarm venture into the world of mobile gaming, BMW would be wise to remind drivers when AirConsole launches that “mobile” gaming is more of a figure of speech in this sense, and games are for people who are parked, not would-be multi-taskers.
