BMW has applied for a patent that allows customers to play various multiplayer games right inside its cars.
BMW, commonly known as one of the most famous car manufacturers in the world, has dabbled in the world of video games in the past.
Germany-based luxury car company BMW has recently made a new move that is as embarrassing as its predecessors, filing a patent designed to allow passengers to play video games inside. car. This invention will allow one passenger to enjoy a single-player game or up to three passengers with a multiplayer game.
BMW, commonly known as one of the most famous car manufacturers in the world, has dabbled in the world of video games in the past. Most notably when the company partnered with Forza Motorsport 4. In October 2022, BMW announced a partnership with AirConsle, a cloud video game company that prides itself on providing an enjoyable social gaming experience. for all ages. At the time, it was unclear what this partnership meant for BMW’s future and its interest in video games. After the most recent patent filing, there is no doubt that the design of some future BMW models will be geared towards the gaming industry.
BMW’s latest invention will allow passengers to play nearly 200 games available in the AirConsole’s cloud system while in the vehicle. These games mainly consist of small and fast games similar to the Jackbox series. Each passenger will use their mobile phone as a controller and use their own iDrive Curved Display. As promised by both BMW and AirConsole, setting up the mobile controller will be as simple as scanning the QR code displayed on the screen.
News of this filed patent could lead to the company’s biggest controversy, which are safety concerns related to driving and playing video games at the same time.
The company’s latest invention is a huge step forward in combining cars and video games, but BMW isn’t the only company wanting to do so. It was also announced last year that another company, Warner Bros., was developing a similar idea using car video game devices and expressed great interest in the technology. The biggest difference with the patent from Warner Bros is that their version is designed only for passengers to play games in self-driving cars.
BMW is not without its occasional controversial issues. News of this filed patent could lead to the company’s biggest controversy, which are safety concerns related to driving and playing video games at the same time. AirConsole has addressed these concerns and stated that their video game system cannot be used while the vehicle is in motion. This sounds great when it comes to safety, but some players may find it a bit annoying not being able to play as a passenger while the driver has their hands on the wheel.
The company also handled a recent controversy when it created recharges to unlock certain features for certain BMW vehicles. This latest invention could become the next big controversy the company has to deal with.
