In the heart of Europe, where cutting-edge innovation meets nostalgia, Volkswagen has achieved what can only be described as a peculiar twist in automotive history: they’ve placed PAC-MAN in the driver’s seat. Whether you’re reminiscing about the thrilling ghost-chases through neon-colored labyrinths of your youth or simply looking for a reason to stay parked in your car a little longer, this is in-car gaming with a spirited twist.
Thanks to a partnership between Volkswagen, Bandai Namco, and AirConsole, over 300,000 Volkswagen vehicles now double as arcades on wheels. This exclusive offering isn’t just delivering gaming—it’s delivering gaming dynamically. PAC-MAN Championship Edition is making its comeback not only through the infotainment screen but with an immersive light show: dynamic background lighting syncs to the action on-screen, and for compatible ID. models, it even integrates with the ID. Light system. Forget haunted houses; this is haunted driving. With each level achieved, Volkswagen is bringing entertainment to life—one LED stripe at a time.
But why stop at spectres and power pellets? Volkswagen has injected a healthy dose of auto-love into PAC-MAN’s DNA. Iconic Volkswagen elements punctuate the gameplay: those juicy, maze-dotted fruits from the 1980s have been reimagined as wheel rims; silhouettes of legendary models like the Beetle and Golf IV R32 score you extra points, while trusty power pellets take the shape of the Volkswagen brand logo. If you thought your everyday family van couldn’t help you beat Inky, you’d be wrong.
All of this comes courtesy of the AirConsole platform, the industry’s first gaming system crafted specifically for cars. AirConsole transforms vehicles into mobile gaming stations: infotainment screens act as displays, your smartphone becomes a controller, and your parked car becomes a battleground against the Ghost Gang. Just imagine the scene in a parking lot: someone furiously swiping on their phone while their car lights flash wildly to the sound of retro bleeps. Volkswagen is shifting gaming from couch-bound boredom to curbside entertainment—and reconnecting generations in the process.
This gaming suite is accessible in European ID. models like the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5 with ID. Software 4.0 or later. It extends to other 2025 models like the Tayron, Passat, and Golf. However, for drivers eager to join the action, a few requirements apply: a Volkswagen ID account, an active VW Connect Plus contract, and (of course) an internet connection. Thankfully, downloading the AirConsole app from the In-Car Shop is a one-time step; after that, it’s a straight road to arcade heaven—while parked, naturally.
For the cynics, one question remains: Is this just gimmickry? Maybe. But at a time when automakers are fighting to make the car more than just a mode of transport, Volkswagen has delivered something novel. From video games to dynamic light shows, they’ve turned the great PAC-MAN labyrinth into a playground for past, present, and future. After all, what better way to kill time while charging your electric car than indulging in some ghost-busting nostalgia? Maybe, just maybe, the “ghost in the machine” is here to stay—and it’s hungry for dots.
