Tesla will partner with Japanese gaming and entertainment company Sega to bring the latest addition to Tesla arcade games: Sonic the Hedgehog.
Tesla Arcade is an in-car gaming platform featuring games such as 2048, Asteroids, Centipede, Super Breakout, Lunar Lander, Missile Command, Millipede, Tempest, and Gravitar. It also includes strategy games such as chess, backgammon and card.
Sega announced its partnership with Tesla in a statement (via NintendoLife.com):
"Get ready, Sonic fans! Sega just announced a partnership with Tesla to bring the Sonic the Hedgehog 1 to Tesla's existing and new models of in-car consoles. When passengers turn into players, they'll travel through classic areas at lightning speed, defeat enemies, and save the world from the hands of the evil Egghead Doctor, all in the comfort of their own car!
Sega is excited to partner with Tesla this time and bring this iconic Sonic game to their vast library of games. The Sonic the Hedgehog 1 will be played on all Tesla models worldwide through Tesla's built-in display and handheld controller connected via the car's USB port. Now wherever you go, Sonic can go with you! ”
However, the game may require a controller connected through the vehicle's USB port, but any basic USB game controller will be compatible with the vehicle. It's not known when Sonic the Hedgehog will appear in Tesla Arcade, but as the holidays approach, perhaps Tesla's gift to owners is the addition of Arcade.
Tesla's timing of adding a new game was odd for Tesla Arcade. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that it is "discussing the feature" with Tesla, following reports that drivers can access video games while the vehicle is in motion can cause a range of problems (Tesla Arcade is available to passengers while the vehicle is in motion, but requires drivers to always focus on the road). Tesla said that Tesla cars equipped with cab-facing cameras can monitor the driver's behavior, including whether the attention is on the vehicle screen, to prevent such things from happening.