Volkswagen Expands AirConsole Starting with the 2027 Model Year
Volkswagen is expanding its digital entertainment offering. Starting with the 2027 US model year, selected vehicles will gain access to AirConsole, including the electric VW ID. Buzz, the Tiguan, the Atlas, as well as the Golf GTI and Golf R.
The concept is simple: The central infotainment system displays the game, while smartphones serve as wireless controllers. This allows several passengers to play together without Volkswagen having to provide additional gamepads in the vehicle.
Scan a QR Code and Connect a Smartphone
To start a game, a QR code appears on the vehicle display. Passengers scan it with their smartphone camera and then receive virtual controls on their own screen.
At launch, 20 games from AirConsole’s in-car catalog of around 50 titles are expected to be available. Confirmed games include Pac-Man, Uno, and Tetris. Some games will feature Volkswagen-themed visuals and can also interact with the vehicle’s ambient lighting.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Market launch | US, starting with the 2027 model year |
| Confirmed models | ID. Buzz, Atlas, Tiguan, Golf GTI, and Golf R |
| Games at launch | 20 titles |
| Controls | Smartphones as wireless controllers |
| Use while driving | Not possible |
| Requirement | Active In-Vehicle Premium subscription |
| Price in the US | $149 per year |
Gaming Works Only While Parked
The games can only be launched when the vehicle is parked. This makes AirConsole particularly suitable for charging stops, waits in parking lots, or longer periods spent in the car. Vehicle moving → gaming disabled.
Volkswagen is taking a somewhat different approach from Tesla, which has offered games in various vehicles for years. VW places greater emphasis on multiplayer gaming using several smartphones, rather than relying solely on the touchscreen or vehicle controls as input devices.
Using smartphones as controllers lowers the barrier to entry and enables multiplayer gaming without additional hardware.
No Separate Gaming Subscription, but Paid Connectivity Is Required
AirConsole is not sold separately but is tied to Volkswagen’s In-Vehicle Premium connectivity package. In the US, it costs $149 per year and also includes connected navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, enhanced voice control in compatible models, premium radio, and connected garage-door integration.
ID. Buzz buyers in the US receive the package at no extra charge for 12 months. The other announced models include three months. Customers who already use the connectivity subscription therefore pay no extra for the games, but once the trial period ends, access remains tied to the full package.
Availability in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Remains Unclear
The current announcement applies specifically to the US market and its 2027 model year. The Atlas is not relevant in the DACH region—Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—while the ID. Buzz and Tiguan would also be of interest to European customers.
Volkswagen’s previous statements do not indicate whether it will bring the same selection of games, the same models, and a comparable subscription plan to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. Technically, however, the solution shows where modern infotainment systems are heading: Time spent parked is increasingly intended to become time for digital activities, while manufacturers fund additional features through ongoing connectivity packages.
