Volkswagen is partnering with Swiss gaming company N-Dream to bring an array of multiplayer gaming options to select models.
This collaboration with N-Dream revolves around the integration of AirConsole, a virtual gaming console developed by the Swiss company. AirConsole allows users to transform their smartphones into gaming controllers, offering a variety of console and mobile titles. With a simple setup involving a smartphone and a compatible device such as a PC, Android TV, Google TV, or Amazon Fire TV, players can access AirConsole’s “starter pack,” which features a selection of games for up to two players.
By subscribing to AirConsole Hero for $8 per month, users unlock the entire gaming platform, which includes popular titles like Overcooked!, Tumblestone, Knife Jump, and Clusterpuck 99. Depending on the game, up to eight players can join a session using their smartphones and connect via a PIN or QR code.
This gaming experience is not entirely new to the automotive world. Before teaming up with Volkswagen, N-Dream collaborated with BMW to bring AirConsole to select BMW and Mini models from 2023 onward. Now, N-Dream is expanding its reach by bringing AirConsole to several Volkswagen models, including the 2025 Passat, Tiguan, Golf, and Golf Estate. Additionally, Volkswagen’s ID series—which includes the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.7 electric vehicles—will integrate AirConsole with the upcoming ID software version 4.0, set to roll out later this year.
According to the official release, AirConsole will only be accessible when the vehicle is parked, making it an ideal entertainment option during road trip breaks or while waiting for electric vehicles (EVs) to charge. This feature aligns perfectly with the needs of Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz Microbus, offers an engaging way to pass the time. However, it’s important to note that this entertainment option is not intended to keep children occupied during long drives, as the games are disabled while the vehicle is in motion.
Last year, Volkswagen signaled this pivot, with the brand’s design boss clarifying that only “important” functions would receive physical switches and dials, catering to drivers’ needs for ease of use while driving.
The upcoming ID.2, an electric hatchback scheduled for 2026, reflects this balance—featuring a 13-inch center touch screen while maintaining physical knobs for essentials like climate control and volume adjustment.