Friday 26th May 2023

New BMW 5 Series gets AirConsole gaming

Stuck in traffic? Waiting for charge? Don't want to see the in-laws? Here's how BMW aims to beat the boredom

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It was last October that BMW previewed the idea of casual gaming as part of its new interiors through the AirConsole app. The premise was incredibly simple, requiring no more technology than a smartphone and the new Curved Display. No wires, no pairing, no faff - a bit of fun when stuck going nowhere in a car, as happens all too often. Having said it would be in cars from 2023, BMW has now confirmed the new 5 Series will launch with AirConsole.

Sounds entertaining, too. All occupants will have to do is scan a QR code on the car’s AirConsole app, which will load up ‘games that are easy to pick up and play and intuitive to control’. So maybe not the epic adventures suitable for a Twitch stream, but probably fun for all the family while waiting for charge - which is obviously an issue the manufacturer is seeking to 'gamify' in the most conspicuous way possible. (BMW reckons the app can support ‘multiple players simultaneously’.) It launches in the 5 Series and i5 with 15 titles including ‘Music Guess’, ‘Overcooked’, ‘Golazo’ and ‘Go Kart Go’, with the games catalogue set to expand over time. The range of BMWs available with the AirConsole app will grow, too.

To mark the launch, BMW has wrapped an i5 in a gaming-inspired livery; the large pixel look is ‘clearly recognisable as an homage to the now iconic 8-bir era of computer games’, with colours inspired by the AirConsole titles. Note as well how the wrap incorporates bits of game controllers; won’t be long before that’s another bit of tech history to explain to the kids as they beat you at Golazo. At least nobody will hear family arguments outside the car...

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• 601hp i5 M60 tops new BMW 5 Series range
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[fantheman80]

Novelty. Kids have their own ipads and phones, adults will try it once. Nothing to see here, move on.

[T1berious]

Ultimate gaming machine.....

[mat205125]

Three points and a fine for using that in a traffic jam

[bakerstreet]

I don't do as many miles as I used to (only 6k a year), but when I do go on a long journey and stop at services I take great pleasure in getting out of the car for 20 minutes to have a coffee and something to eat. Last thing I want to domis sit in the same seat playing a game.

What is the 8-bir computer era? Presume this is typo.

[Grumps.]

mat205125 said:

Three points and a fine for using that in a traffic jam

Hopefully.

[V8 FOU]

Proof that BMW have really lost it.
Stupidest idea ever.

[Silvanus]

V8 FOU said:

Proof that BMW have really lost it.
Stupidest idea ever.

I hope at some point manufacturers stop filling their vehicle with pointless crap that's not needed. Although I guess it's all done to make a profit so they won't. No wonder Dacia is doing so well.

[jimmymidnight]

Yet again OEMs making solutions to problems that don't exist, instead of fixing ones that do because that's a lot less "sexy" for the shareholders...

[Turbobanana]

Would have preferred the extra budget to have been spent on engaging a designer that knew how to draw cars.

[MDifficult]

Good to see the endless infantilisation of drivers continues apace. We're 5 years from the brainless blobs in Wall-E.

[SDK]

Good to have the option - if you don’t want use it then don’t - simples !

[Jeremy-57bxb]

mat205125 said:

Three points and a fine for using that in a traffic jam

Exactly, although I'm sure that won't bother many BMW drivers

[NigelCayless]

The solution to the problem I never knew I had! Thank goodness for BMW!

[Beethree]

I do wonder if any of this stuff will work in 10 years time - if it's cloud/internet based and the manufacturer sees no reason to support it in future, I suspect so many of these 'features' will be rendered un-usable well before the end of life of the vehicle.

[dxg]

Jeremy-57bxb said:

mat205125 said:

Three points and a fine for using that in a traffic jam

Exactly, although I'm sure that won't bother many BMW drivers

For BMW drivers, every journey's *already* a video game...

[Robertb]

Grumps. said:

mat205125 said:

Three points and a fine for using that in a traffic jam

Hopefully.

6 points I think, if you are gaming via your phone.

[anonymous-user]

MDifficult said:

Good to see the endless infantilisation of drivers continues apace. We're 5 years from the brainless blobs in Wall-E.

I was there 5 years ago

[InformationSuperHighway]

Tesla have a lot to answer for.

[nismo48]

V8 FOU said:

Proof that BMW have really lost it.
Stupidest idea ever.

A bit daft and pointless

[NDNDNDND]

nismo48 said:

V8 FOU said:

Proof that BMW have really lost it.
Stupidest idea ever.

A bit daft and pointless

Perceived Added Value.

It's all that matters.