Volkswagen is adding another reason to spend a little more time inside its newest vehicles, even when they are not moving. Beginning with select 2027 models, the automaker will offer AirConsole in-vehicle gaming in the United States, giving occupants access to multiplayer games through the vehicle’s infotainment screen while parked. Volkswagen says it will be the first volume automotive brand in the U.S. to offer the AirConsole platform, bringing a feature once associated mostly with higher-end vehicles to several of its mainstream models.

The setup is refreshingly simple and does not require dedicated game controllers or extra hardware. Players scan a QR code displayed on the infotainment screen, connect compatible smartphones, and then use those phones as controllers. AirConsole will launch in Volkswagen vehicles with a catalog of 20 games, including familiar titles such as PAC-MAN Championship Edition, UNO Car Party! and Tetris. It is the sort of feature that could make charging stops, school pickup lines, road-trip breaks or waiting in a parking lot considerably more entertaining, especially with several passengers aboard.

Volkswagen is also adding a few brand-specific touches to the experience. A customized version of PAC-MAN replaces traditional power pellets with Volkswagen logos and swaps bonus fruit for recognizable Volkswagen vehicles. Golazo! and Memory Match will feature Volkswagen-themed content as well. On compatible models and trims, certain games can even interact with the vehicle’s ambient lighting, allowing the cabin illumination to respond to gameplay. That may sound like a small detail, but it could make the experience feel far more integrated than simply loading a game onto a large dashboard screen.

AirConsole will be offered on 2027 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan, Golf GTI, Golf R and ID. Buzz models enrolled in Volkswagen’s In-Vehicle Premium service through the myVW app. That subscription package also includes features such as Wi-Fi hotspot capability, Premium Navigation, Premium Speech and other connected services depending on the vehicle. Volkswagen will include three months of In-Vehicle Premium at no additional cost with 2027 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan and Golf models, while the ID. Buzz will include one year. After the complimentary period ends, In-Vehicle Premium will cost $149 per year on eligible 2027 vehicles.

In-car gaming certainly is not a feature anyone needs, but it does show how automakers are continuing to rethink the role of the infotainment system when a vehicle is stationary. Screens that were once devoted almost entirely to navigation, audio and vehicle settings are increasingly becoming entertainment hubs. Volkswagen’s AirConsole implementation appears designed to keep things approachable by using devices passengers already carry, rather than requiring another controller to keep in the glovebox. Provided the vehicle has compatible hardware and connectivity, owners simply enroll through myVW and can turn downtime inside their Volkswagen into an impromptu multiplayer gaming session.