PAC-MAN comes to VW cars

WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen is set to expand its gaming portfolio with the launch of the PAC-MAN Championship Edition on its AirConsole in-car application.

The move, which marks the first instance of an automotive manufacturer blending a video game with a vehicle’s ambience, allows drivers to use a smartphone as a controller while the game is played on the vehicle’s infotainment display.

The in-car app, available in a range of models, offers an immersive gaming experience through dynamic integration with the car’s background lighting and, in compatible ID. models, optional ID. Light.

The classic PAC-MAN gameplay remains intact, with the iconic character navigating a maze to consume dots while evading ghosts, only now with a modern twist.

Redesigned icons for bonus points and power pellets now feature silhouettes of familiar Volkswagen emblems, including the Beetle, VW Bus, Golf IV R32, and various performance models such as GTI, GTX and R, as well as Volkswagen wheel rims.

Notably, the Volkswagen logo itself acts as a power pellet, adding to the distinctive gaming experience.

AirConsole, which is the first gaming platform specifically designed for vehicles, transforms eligible Volkswagen cars into interactive gaming hubs by using the infotainment system, audio, and ambient lighting.

The service, which addresses customer feedback, aims to create a new social experience by connecting generations through a beloved classic game.

The AirConsole app is currently available across many European countries in a range of Volkswagen models including ID.7, ID.5, ID.4, ID.3, Tayron, Tiguan, Passat, Golf Variant and Golf from the 2025 model year onward.

Access requires a Volkswagen ID user account, an active VW Connect Plus contract and a smartphone with an internet connection, with the app downloadable from the In-Car Shop prior to initial use.