Android Auto Beta Allows You to Play Games on Cars' Infotainment Systems, But There's a Catch

Last March, Google shared massive updates coming for Android Auto, and one of the biggest features is giving users the ability to play games right on the infotainment system, which is now rolling out via the beta.

Drivers who have joined the Android Auto Beta program are now receiving the latest updates on their software.

Playing games on Android Auto's platform only needs minimal requirements, and these are understandable conditions from Google.

Android Auto's Latest Beta Update Lets Users Play Games

According to the latest report by 9to5Google, Android Auto 14.1 beta is now rolling out massive experiences for users, including the much-awaited feature that allows them to play games. This feature was initially announced last March by the company.

However, a Google spokesperson clarified that the new gaming experience for infotainment systems is not limited to just the beta. For those who have updated to Android Auto 14.0's stable release, this feature is also available.

While that is the case, there are different users who still cannot play games on their vehicle's display, and that is because there are certain requirements from Google before users may access this latest experience.

What's the Catch?

The Android website shared a footnote for this new feature that is being rolled out. It says that users are required to use compatible mobile devices only and must be running on the latest Android 15 operating system or later.

Moreover, users need to verify if their infotainment systems are compatible with Android Auto to begin with. Furthermore, vehicles should be in park and not in motion to access these compatible apps and games.

Android Auto: Connected Infotainment Experience

The automotive industry's infotainment systems evolved from being radios that could only play FM/AM stations, CDs, flash drives, AUX, and Bluetooth to the more modern touchscreen experience that almost replicates smartphones.

Companies like Google have come up with a way to integrate smartphones into infotainment systems via connected software. Google, in particular, delivered Android Auto, improving its features over the years with a safety-first approach.

Last year, one of the largest updates from Google for Android Auto was the addition of native in-car video streaming experiences by offering the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and more to be directly accessible on the platform. The main caveat is users may only access these apps when the vehicle is parked or not in motion, and this helps avoid accidents or mishaps on the road.

That being said, many automakers are not convinced with what Google has to offer with Android Auto and Apple with its CarPlay as the likes of General Motors and Tesla have removed the connected software technology from their experiences.