Tesla is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of its cars. The electric vehicle manufacturer often tries to introduce cutting-edge technology to its vehicles, such as the autopilot system. However, Tesla has a very different and somewhat stranger initiative that it's been working on for a long time. As it turns out, Elon Musk is very enthusiastic about developing cars that can play video games using internal touch screens. As odd as that might sound, the initiative has seen success; through the Tesla Arcade system, Tesla car owners can play games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Cuphead from the comfort of their vehicle.
Not all is perfectly well in Tesla's quest to bring video games to vehicles, though. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, a subdivision of the United States Department of Transportation, is reportedly investigating the new Passenger Play feature in Teslas. As the name suggests, Passenger Play allows passengers in Tesla vehicles to play video games while the car is moving, including on the dashboard screen that displays vital information for the driver. Word of the investigation is fresh, so its long-term impact remains to be seen, but it's very possible that Tesla will have to do some major restructuring if it wants to continue offering Passenger Play.
Passenger Play and the Tesla Investigation
Tesla Arcade is hardly a new feature for Tesla owners. It was first revealed in 2019, and since then it's become available to multiple Tesla models. While a Tesla is parked, owners can play games on their dashboard screen, sometimes even using the car's steering wheel as a controller. However, since Tesla Arcade is only available in cars while stationary, Passenger Play is a major change to the system. As long as a user confirms that they're not the driver, anyone in a Tesla vehicle can play Tesla Arcade games while the car is moving thanks to Passenger Play.
The NHTSA didn't take action against Passenger Play immediately, but the investigation came quickly after it received a complaint about games in Tesla cars. One Tesla user expressed their concerns about how Passenger Play affects the driver. Passenger Play takes up the majority of the dashboard screen if a passenger in the front seat is playing a game, which means the driver has a harder time seeing information about the car. What's more, the complainant raised more general concerns about allowing video to play in front of the driver, describing it as "a dangerous distraction" and "recklessly negligent."
Playing Sonic the Hedgehog on the go may appeal to Tesla owners, but the NHTSA is taking concerns about Passenger Play seriously. It's investigating the Tesla Models 3, S, X, and Y, which amounts to some 580,000 vehicles with access to the feature. It wouldn't be surprising to see major changes come to Tesla Arcade and Passenger Play as a result of this investigation. After all, one can simply tap through the window asking if the Passenger Play user is not the driver, meaning drivers technically can play video games while driving if they trick the app. The NHTSA will almost certainly want stronger restrictions in place.
The Future of Tesla Arcade
It seems unlikely that Tesla Arcade will disappear from Tesla vehicles completely as a result of this feature. After all, playing games while the car is parked is a pretty innocuous way to entertain users. Passenger Play, however, has a much more dubious future. Tesla might be able to save the feature, potentially limiting it to screens in the backseat of Tesla vehicles, but if it's so easy for anyone to play games while the vehicle is moving, then change is probably on the horizon. The NHTSA investigation has only just begun, so Tesla users should keep an eye out for further word on the matter.