German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has recently announced a collaboration with Boosteroid, a cloud gaming platform. The goal is to transform the infotainment system so that car owners can play games from Steam, Epic Games, and more without needing to download any content locally.
This feature will be available next year in Mercedes cars equipped with the MBUX operating system, as part of the Entertainment Package Plus. However, the company hasn’t confirmed an official launch date yet.
In the words of Mercedes chief software officer Magnus Östberg:
“Together with Boosteroid, we’re offering an even more attractive in-car gaming experience for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The cloud-based approach to gaming is the ideal way to bring triple-A gaming to our customers and gaming fans alike.”
Mercedes’ partnership with Boosteroid will provide access to a catalog of over 1,000 games, including a wide selection of triple-A releases, directly in Mercedes’ cars. According to the manufacturer, “the cloud gaming community [predicts] that 90 percent of gamers will opt for cloud-based gaming by the early 2030s.”
This trend isn’t new, although it’s uncertain whether cloud gaming will dominate in the future. It’s currently stuck.
The app has been available for a while, offering access to compatible games through a subscription model. It initially allowed users to play on PC, console, smart TV, and mobile, and now it’s expanding to Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
It’s important to emphasize that this app will only work when the car is parked. In this regard, it won’t be possible to run the games if the vehicle is on the move. It’ll also be possible to connect a Bluetooth controller or even use a phone as a controller.
The idea is innovative, but not pioneering. In 2022, manufacturers like Tesla included compatibility with platforms such as Steam, which also allowed games to be played using Bluetooth controllers. Mercedes, on the other hand, wants to create the ultimate software without a trace of Google, and allying with giants such as Boosteroid or Aptoide is the best indication that the company is getting closer and closer to achieving it.
Image | Mercedes-Benz
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