In the past, you could only see a console in a car in Pimp My Ride episodes. Today, car manufacturers are making them straight out of the factory to appeal to the younger audience. Is this trend going to take over the automobile industry?
Safety concerns
There are some safety concerns when it comes to installing game consoles in cars. Some believe that it can distract the driver even if it is not in the front section of the car. Some Dayton motorcycle accident lawyers have seen cases where drivers were distracted by electronic devices.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Using portable consoles such as PlayStation Vita or Nintendo Switch is considerably safer. This is because the driver can only play them when the car is stationary.
If a car must have a console, then experts recommend placing it in the back seat of the car. This way, it doesn’t distract the driver too much. Also, many infotainment systems have similar games but work only when the car is stationary. Brands such as Tesla also have similar gaming systems installed from the factory. However, they are also designed for use when the car is not moving.
This may change soon as fully autonomous driving becomes the norm. Since the driver does not need to focus on the road, they can play video games to keep themselves occupied before reaching their destination. Regardless of autonomous driving, there may still be regulations preventing gaming for the driver. We just have to wait and see what sort of regulations will be in place.
Popular in-car gaming technology
With the rise of the low-latency 5G network, car owners can connect to digital game stores from their cars, regardless of where they are. The experience is less and lag-free without the need for computer systems.
Nvidia recently released a cloud gaming service and is partnering with Polestar and Hyundai to integrate the games into their vehicles. This system is designed to use the Android operating system, and comes with an app where users can select games and play seamlessly.
Both Sony and Honda recently had a joint venture agreement to work on an electric vehicle prototype, which will have a game console installed and run on technology from Epic Games. So far the technology has been tested in Volvo and features a 14.2-inch touchscreen display. Car owners can choose to use this display screen as a controller or use a separate video game controller.
A popular game provider known as Thundersoft has also revealed that it is creating a seventh-generation cockpit product. This technology is expected to come with upgraded computing power and immersive games.
Companies like Tesla and Audi have already equipped their vehicles with these features and are still testing them out. Mercedes is another company that has incorporated a classic Nintendo game after the company collaborated with Faurecia in 2022. BMW is also not left out of the conversation, as the company has partnered with a gaming platform to launch an app that can be played by drivers and passengers in their cars only when the vehicle is stationary.
