A new mobile game is showing that AirPods can be more than just earbuds. RidePods – Race With Head turns Apple’s wireless headphones into a controller, letting players steer a motorcycle simply by tilting their head. The setup uses the same motion sensors that power Spatial Audio, transforming a familiar accessory into an unexpected gaming tool.
According to The Verge, the game is compatible with AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and the newer generations of AirPods that include gyroscopes and accelerometers. The bike automatically accelerates through traffic while the player leans left or right to change lanes. A forward or backward tilt can also be used to control speed, though that feature has been described as less reliable.
What makes the experience stand out is how smooth the head-tracking feels. Even with just one AirPod, the steering reacts quickly, creating a sense of immersion that traditional touchscreen controls often lack. The developer even included options to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, as well as a recording mode that captures gameplay and front-facing camera footage at the same time.
Visually, the game isn’t without its flaws—roads occasionally glitch, and the track design is fairly simple. But the main draw isn’t the graphics; it’s the demonstration of how wearables can double as gaming hardware. By tapping into Apple’s APIs, the developer has shown how sensors designed for audio positioning can be repurposed for entirely different experiences.
The implications could stretch far beyond this single title. If motion sensors in earbuds can track head movements with this level of precision, it opens the door to more gesture-based controls in mobile games, fitness apps, or even AR experiences. Instead of being limited to sound, earbuds could become subtle, everyday input devices.
RidePods is free to download for iPhone and iPad users, provided they own compatible AirPods. While it feels closer to a clever proof of concept than a polished blockbuster, it has already sparked curiosity about the future of motion-based gaming. A headset that doubles as a steering wheel might sound like a novelty now, but it hints at a broader shift in how people might interact with technology in ways that are playful, intuitive, and entirely hands-free.