Elon Musk is once again raising eyebrows with his vision for Tesla’s future. The CEO recently hinted that drivers may soon be able to play video games while their cars operate in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode. Responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said the feature could arrive in “probably three to six months.” However, he said it would depend heavily on regulatory approval across different regions.
Musk, a lifelong gamer himself, has often spoken about his love for titles like Elden Ring, Diablo IV, Quake, and Polytopia, making his push for in-car gaming unsurprising. Tesla has been gradually turning its vehicles into entertainment hubs. Current models enable parked drivers and passengers to stream services like Netflix or YouTube, as well as access a library of built-in arcade-style games.
Musk’s latest comment suggests Tesla plans to push that concept further by enabling gaming while the vehicle handles the driving. With Tesla’s large central touchscreen already serving as the command center for navigation, media, and climate, the possibility of transforming it into a gaming console while on the road has sparked both excitement and controversy.
Supporters of the idea see it as a natural next step in Musk’s vision of making Tesla cabins resemble mobile lounges. Over the past year, Musk has described future Teslas as places where people could relax, work, or watch movies while traveling. Adding video games would expand that vision, especially for long commutes or road trips.
Yet critics warn that the plan comes at a risky time. Tesla’s FSD system has been under heavy scrutiny following a string of accidents, including a 2019 fatal crash that resulted in a $243 million lawsuit loss for the company. Investigators have raised questions about whether Tesla’s driver monitoring systems can reliably ensure drivers stay alert, with some reports suggesting delays of several seconds before detecting driver disengagement. On Reddit, one commenter joked that the “real game” would be pressing the emergency stop before a crash occurs.
Safety agencies in Europe and Asia have already signaled doubts about in-motion gaming. Euro NCAP, a major automotive safety group, has cautioned that allowing video games while driving could threaten Tesla’s top safety ratings. In China, regulators have indicated it would be difficult for such a feature to pass current approval standards. In the United States, regulators are also expected to closely examine the technology, particularly since Tesla’s FSD is still considered Level 2 autonomy, which requires drivers to remain attentive at all times.
Whether the feature rolls out in the coming months or takes years to gain approval, Musk continues to push the merging of transportation and entertainment. For now, the idea of gaming while commuting raises questions about how safe it will be for everyday use.
Seems to me that playing games in a self-driving car is STILL extremely risky. The tech has not been completely perfected yet.