Long charging stops and road trip pit stops are about to get infinitely less boring. Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to select vehicles through LG’s webOS Automotive Content Platform, turning your car’s infotainment system into a mobile gaming console. Instead of scrolling TikTok for the hundredth time while your EV charges, you could be exploring Halo’s latest campaign or diving into Forza Motorsport—the irony being you’re playing racing games while parked.
What You Need to Game on the Go
The setup mirrors streaming Xbox games on your smart TV, but with automotive-specific safety measures. You’ll need:
- An active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription
- A Bluetooth controller
- An automotive data plan robust enough for cloud streaming
The system only operates when your vehicle is safely parked—so no Grand Theft Auto while stuck in actual traffic. LG’s platform integrates the Xbox app alongside familiar streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, creating a comprehensive entertainment hub that passengers can navigate through the car’s touchscreen.
Rolling Out to Select Kia Models First
The feature launches initially in Europe’s Kia EV3, with future compatibility confirmed for the EV4, EV5, and redesigned Sportage. This positions Kia as the early adopter brand for in-car gaming. The timing aligns perfectly with the EV charging infrastructure reality—even fast chargers require 20-40 minute stops, creating natural gaming windows for passengers.
Beyond Gaming: Cars as Digital Living Spaces
Microsoft’s “This Is An Xbox” campaign emphasizes platform ubiquity, and vehicles represent the next logical frontier after phones, tablets, and smart TVs. LG is simultaneously adding a native Zoom app to the same platform, signaling cars’ transformation from transportation tools into mobile productivity and entertainment spaces.
Current limitations include the controller requirement and potential data plan costs, but these feel like early adoption hurdles rather than fundamental barriers.
The convergence feels inevitable when you consider how entertainment consumption has evolved. Your living room streams everything, your phone games everywhere, and now your car joins the ecosystem. Road trips just got more interesting for passengers—assuming you remember to pack that controller.
