When the classic login interface of Steam appears on Tesla’s in-car screen, the boundaries between the automotive industry and the gaming world collapse. This is not a scene from a science fiction movie—Tesla is integrating the world’s largest PC gaming platform into your cockpit, and the collision between the steering wheel and game controller is sparking a dangerous cross-boundary celebration.
Safety? Regulations? Tesla’s Deadly Game
Imagine speeding down the highway while a passenger in the front seat battles in Elden Ring, and suddenly a monster jumps out, causing the passenger to grab your arm in panic… This is not a fictional scenario, but a real concern raised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during its investigation into Tesla’s in-car gaming.
The boundaries of regulations are being erased by technology: Tesla has exploited a regulatory loophole with its setting that allows gaming as long as there is a passenger in the front seat. But the reality is that any distraction in the cockpit can be fatal. A 2023 NHTSA report shows that distracted driving led to 3,142 deaths in the U.S.; when game graphics flash in the cockpit, who can guarantee that attention won’t be hijacked?
Iron Man’s Ambition for a Third Space
Why is Musk taking such risks? Behind this is the tech giant’s redefinition of automotive space. When Sony and Honda’s new car comes with a built-in PS5, and NIO owners play Genshin Impact in their cars, vehicles are transforming from mere transportation tools into mobile “third living spaces.”
Tesla’s AMD Ryzen chip has computing power that surpasses the PS5, a 17-inch screen that outshines gaming laptops, and a 22-speaker sound system that creates an immersive audio environment—hardware-wise, it is essentially a super gaming console disguised as a car. The move to integrate Steam completely tears off this disguise.
A Celebration Scene by the Charging Station
The truly meaningful scenes unfold at charging stations. At a supercharging station in Shanghai, Model Y owner Xiao Li plays through side quests in Cyberpunk 2077 while charging: “Before, I felt anxious scrolling through short videos while charging; now, 30 minutes is enough for an intense battle, and time flies by.”
Tesla’s supercharging stations are quietly transforming into internet cafes:
75% of owners start gaming while charging
Average gaming session lasts 32 minutes
Vampire Survivors and Overcooked become perfect time-killers
The Future War Between Steering Wheels and Controllers
As gaming truly integrates into the cockpit, technology is resolving safety dilemmas:
New EU regulations in 2026 will mandate driver monitoring cameras, and Tesla’s in-car cameras can track eye movement in real-time
Games automatically dim the driving information area upon startup, and the physical steering wheel locks game controls
Microsoft Xbox cloud gaming runs through the browser, eliminating the need for local installation to reduce the burden on the in-car system
Even more astonishing is the potential for the Steam Deck handheld to interact with the in-car system—pulling out the handheld while waiting for family members to continue an unfinished game from the living room, with progress automatically synced to the large screen in the car. The gaming experience achieves a seamless transition between “cockpit-living room-handheld” for the first time.
Cold Reflections Amidst the Celebration
Technology is not inherently sinful, but machines carrying lives cannot afford trial and error. When a car owner in Shanghai played Euro Truck Simulator in a parking lot and then hit the road, momentarily mistaking the real steering wheel for a game controller; when a teenager in Chicago attempted to bypass the gaming restrictions in the driver’s seat… these incidents remind us: no game, no matter how exciting, is worth risking life and safety.
Full concentration is always required in front of the steering wheel. Perhaps Tesla should learn from Nintendo Switch’s design philosophy—when you pull out the console while in motion, the screen immediately freezes. In this special space of the cockpit, the gaming experience must pause for safety.
The future is here, but there is no need to rush to attach controllers to the steering wheel. Let Cyberpunk relieve stress while charging, and let It Takes Two enhance relationships while waiting, but the moment you press the accelerator—please leave the virtual battlefield to the screen and return the real road to focus. After all, in the game of life, we cannot afford to lose even one life.