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The BMW Group is giving a big endorsement of in-car gaming by launching the AirConsole gaming platform in its BMW 5 Series cars.
bmw said the partnership will bring a unique kind of in-car gameplay to the road for the first time in the new BMW 5 Series. Sadly, but probably for the best, you play when the car isn’t moving.
It allows the driver and passengers to play so-called casual games while the vehicle is stationary as a way to pass the time while waiting for the vehicle to charge, for example. (Having tested a few electric vehicles, I can tell you that the charging time is long.)
In addition to the new BMW 5 Series, the AirConsole app will be offered in other BMW vehicles. BMW Group Design has designed a BMW i5 car with a unique game appearance. This livery transforms the BMW 5 Series into the ultimate gaming station, not only technically, but also visually, the company said.
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Easy to use with smartphone as controller
For the in-car gaming experience, players simply need their smartphone, which acts as the controller, and BMW’s curved screen.
After launching the AirConsole app in the vehicle, the connection between the smartphone and the vehicle is established intuitively by scanning a QR code on the curved screen. Then players can start playing directly.
The AirConsole app supports multiple players simultaneously. Rear passengers can also join in on the in-car gaming fun during stops. In general, it is possible to play alone or with all the occupants of the vehicle together or in competition mode.
With AirConsole, gamers can play casual games. These are games that are easy to pick up and play and intuitive to control. The selection available for the market introduction of the new BMW 5 Series includes racing, sports, quiz and music quiz games, as well as simulation, strategy, jump and run and puzzle games.
The 15 or so titles available to play right out of the box include Go Kart Go, Golazo, Music Guess, and Overcooked. The portfolio of available games will be continuously expanded.
BMW i5 with a unique gaming look
To celebrate the launch of in-car games, the BMW Group presents a BMW i5 with a unique game wrap. Its design symbolizes immersing yourself in the gaming experience down to the individual pixels.
The large pixels are clearly recognizable as a tribute to the now iconic era of 8-bit computer games. The color scheme is inspired by the various games available on the AirConsole platform.
The elements of gaming controllers wrap around the i5, thus embracing the unique solution for in-car gaming with AirConsole, where the smartphone becomes the controller and puts all gaming options at the fingertips of Players. I recently visited the Santa Monica, California, studio where BMW designs many of its cars and other products.
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