A Classic Makes Its Way into the Vehicle: VW, Bandai Namco, and AirConsole Bring Pac-Man into the Car

Dynamic Ambient Lighting A Classic Makes Its Way into the Vehicle: VW, Bandai Namco, and AirConsole Bring Pac-Man into the Car

2025-04-15 From Stefanie Eckardt | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Starting now, Volkswagen offers the Pac-Man Championship Edition in the optional In-Car App AirConsole, available for playing on the infotainment display in the parked vehicle. The smartphone serves as the controller. Optionally, the car manufacturer dynamically connects the new game with the ambient lighting and additionally with the ID. Light in compatible ID. models.

Boredom at the rest stop? Volkswagen prevents this by bringing the classic game Pac-Man into the vehicle.(Image: Volkswagen AG) — Boredom at the rest stop? Volkswagen prevents this by bringing the classic game Pac-Man into the vehicle.
(Image: Volkswagen AG)

One of the most popular games of the '80s is coming to vehicles – specifically to Volkswagen models: Pac-Man. With the "Pac-Man Championship Edition," users can enjoy the long-popular game principle: Pac-Man eats points in a maze while fending off ghosts. Once all points are eaten, the next level starts. The icons for bonus points and "power pellets" have been newly designed. For instance, touching silhouettes of the Volkswagen Beetle, Bulli, and Golf IV R32, as well as brands like GTI, GTX, or R, and wheels, earns more points. Those who want to strategically combat the ghosts should look for power pellets in the form of the Volkswagen brand logo.

Interior lighting reacts to game inputs

AirConsole, as a gaming platform specifically developed for vehicles, transforms compatible Volkswagen models into a gaming station, including infotainment, sound, and ambient lighting systems. Specifically, the interior lighting reacts to the game content and players' inputs. The games are aimed at casual gamers of all ages. With this expansion of the gaming offerings, the automaker is responding to feedback from its drivers. Together with partners N-Dream and Bandai Namco Entertainment, they aim to make gaming in the vehicle a new social experience. Volkswagen claims it is "taking the entire digital experience to a new level."

The automaker offers the In-Car App AirConsole in the ID. models ID.7, ID.5, ID.4, and ID.3 (each from ID. Software 4.0) as well as for the models Passat, Tiguan, Tayron, Golf, and Golf Variant from the 2025 model year in many European countries. Requirements for playing while parked are a Volkswagen ID user account, an active VW Connect Plus contract, and – logically – an active internet connection of the smartphone. The In-Car App AirConsole must be downloaded from the In-Car Shop before the first use. (se)

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