Tesla Removes Steam Support Feature from Vehicles

In a surprising turn of events, Tesla has reportedly decided to remove Steam support from its vehicles, less than 18 months after it was initially introduced. The decision comes as a disappointment to many Tesla owners who were enjoying the ability to play games like Cuphead, Sonic, and Cyberpunk 2077 through a native beta Steam app on their Model S and X cars.

According to a statement sent to customers awaiting delivery of their S and X models, Tesla explained that the company is updating the gaming computer in these vehicles, rendering them incapable of playing Steam games. The statement also assured customers that all other entertainment and app functionalities would remain unaffected by this change.

The reasoning behind this decision has not been officially confirmed by Tesla, leaving many speculating about the possible factors at play. It is worth noting that back in 2021, Tesla faced an investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding its Passenger Play feature. In response to this investigation, Tesla made the feature “unusable” while the vehicle is in motion, limiting the functionality of apps like Steam to when the car is parked or being charged.

Although existing Tesla owners who were already using the Steam app on their vehicles are said to be unaffected, the removal of Steam support from new Tesla models has sparked disappointment and curiosity among gaming enthusiasts. The exact implications of this change for future Tesla models and potential alternatives for gaming enthusiasts have yet to be determined. As Tesla continues to innovate and provide updates to its vehicle software, it will be interesting to see how the gaming experience in Tesla cars evolves in the future.

Key facts and information:
– Tesla introduced Steam support in its Model S and X cars less than 18 months ago.
– Tesla has now decided to remove Steam support from its vehicles.
– The decision has disappointed many Tesla owners who enjoyed playing games like Cuphead, Sonic, and Cyberpunk 2077.
– Tesla is updating the gaming computer in the vehicles, rendering them unable to play Steam games.
– All other entertainment and app functionalities remain unaffected by this change.
– The exact reasons behind Tesla’s decision have not been officially confirmed.
– In 2021, Tesla faced an investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding its Passenger Play feature, which may have influenced this decision.
– Existing Tesla owners who were already using the Steam app will not be affected.
– The removal of Steam support has sparked disappointment and curiosity among gaming enthusiasts.
– The implications for future Tesla models and potential alternatives for gaming enthusiasts are yet to be determined.
– Tesla’s continued software updates may bring changes to the gaming experience in Tesla cars in the future.

Most important questions and answers:
Q: Why did Tesla remove Steam support from its vehicles?
A: The exact reasons behind Tesla’s decision have not been officially confirmed. However, it might be related to the investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding the Passenger Play feature.

Q: Will existing Tesla owners who already used the Steam app be affected?
A: No, existing Tesla owners who were already using the Steam app will not be affected by the removal of Steam support.

Q: Will this change affect all future Tesla models?
A: The implications for future Tesla models have not been confirmed. It remains to be seen if Steam support will be reintroduced in upcoming models or if Tesla will offer alternative gaming options.

Key challenges or controversies:
– Disappointment among Tesla owners who enjoyed gaming on their vehicles.
– Speculation about the reasons behind Tesla’s decision.
– Uncertainty regarding the future gaming experience in Tesla cars and potential alternative options.
– The investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding Tesla’s Passenger Play feature.

Advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
– Tesla vehicles provided a unique gaming experience with Steam support.
– The ability to play games during charging or while parked added entertainment value for Tesla owners.

Disadvantages:
– The removal of Steam support has disappointed gaming enthusiasts who were looking forward to gaming on Tesla vehicles.
– Uncertainty regarding the future of gaming options in Tesla cars may discourage some potential buyers.

Suggested related links:
– tesla.com