2024 BMW 5 Series, first i5 with AirConsole – in-car gaming platform coming to other models via update
completely new G60 BMW 5 . Series and its purely electrical equivalent, G60E i5was unveiled recently with AirConsole, a gaming platform that allows riders and passengers to play games while the vehicle is stationary as a way to pass the time (like while waiting for a battery to charge).
The AirConsole integration is first announced by BMW last Octoberand after the latest 5 Series and i5, other models equipped with the BMW Curved Monitor due to iDrive 8.5 will also get this feature.
According to the German automaker, models confirmed to receive AirConsole include the 7 Series, iX and i4 manufactured from July 2023 as well as the X5, X6, X7 and XM manufactured from August 2023. Meanwhile, the models currently eligible to receive iDrive 8.5 via over-the-air (OTA) update include the AirConsole 7 Series (manufactured from July 2022), iX (manufactured from July 2022), and iX March 2023) as well as the X5, X6, X7 and XM (manufactured from April 2023).
To enjoy this in-car gaming experience, players only need a smartphone, which acts as a controller. They will first need to pair their device via a QR code displayed on the infotainment screen and can play alone or with all the occupants of the vehicle together.
Currently, there are about 15 games available to play, including titles like go kart, Golazo, guess the music And Overdo, but BMW says more will be added in the future. It also mentions that these are “so-called casual games” upon release, so don’t expect to play Electronic 2077 how Tesla showed off last year.
BMW is also celebrating the launch of its in-car gaming by introducing a special i5 wrapped in a unique game theme. The color scheme is said to be inspired by the various games available on the AirConsole platform, while the large pixels pay homage to the 8-bit era of gaming.
