Tesla owner and entrepreneur Elon Musk is a noted video game fan, and has consistently made the ability to play games in his cars a priority. Current Tesla models include an "Arcade" feature which includes classics such as solitaire and chess, multiplayer games like Beach Buggy Racing 2,and more modern offerings including Fallout Shelter. Now, the upcoming Plaid Model S represents another huge development in the relationship between Tesla and gaming.
Yesterday, Musk took to Twitter to confirm that the Plaid Model S would be shipping sometime in February. However, he also revealed some rather unexpected news: the new model would feature a gaming rig capable of playing graphically intensive modern titles including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Musk, a known fan of both Cyberpunk and The Witcher franchise, previously added an option to change the Tesla's standard horn or turn signal sounds into a line from "Toss a Coin To Your Witcher," a song featured in the 2019 Netflix adaptation of the series.
The updated Tesla Arcade function will feature 10 teraflops of processing power, which will reportedly put it on a similar level to the recently released next-generation consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The interior of the car will include two screens, a 2200 x 1300 resolution main display between the driver's and passenger's seats, and a secondary one behind the center console for passengers riding in the rear. The Tesla Arcade will also support wireless controllers, although which specific controllers are compatible has not yet been confirmed.
The Tesla Plaid Model S is the first redesign of the electric sedan model since its initial release in 2012. In addition to the upgraded Tesla Arcade, it features a remodeled exterior and interior as well as a powertrain which allows it to - according to Musk's Tweet - travel from 0 to 60mph in under 2 seconds. Tesla is advertising the new model as the "fastest accelerating car" ever released. The standard Plaid powertrain travels for 390 miles, while an even more advanced Plaid+ version offers a full 520 miles of travel. Currently, the Plaid is expected to retail for $119,000 USD and the Plaid+ for $139,000 USD.
Online response to Musk's tweet regarding Tesla Arcade has been mixed. While some notables, including author Stephen King, have expressed a desire to own the new Plaid Model S, others are concerned regarding how Cyberpunk 2077 will be implemented. CD Projekt RED's latest offering has had a troubled release, with the PC version receiving some praise but the console versions attracting criticism for the high frequency of bugs and crashes. Currently, Cyberpunk 2077 has been removed from the PlayStation Store, although CD Projekt RED is reportedly working to have it restored. The company has also committed to releasing patches to fix the game's many issues.
Neither Musk nor any other representative from Tesla has confirmed which version of Cyberpunk 2077 will be playable via Tesla Arcade. This has led to a number of online jokes regarding the game's performance. In particular, The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley joked on Twitter that "the game crashes more than the car." Hopefully, neither Cyberpunk 2077 nor the Tesla itself will experience any crashing whatsoever.
Gamers worried about the performance of Cyberpunk 2077 on the Tesla Plaid Model S can turn to one of the many other offerings available via Tesla Arcade. Cyberpunk may still be buggy, but The Witcher 3 remains one of the most highly praised and awarded games of all time. Other games which will be available have not yet been revealed, but that information should be coming soon if the Plaid Model S is indeed planned to ship within the next month.
Cyberpunk 2077 is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.