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Tesla has been making significant reductions across various aspects of its operations lately, impacting future models, features, pricing, safety measures, and even staffing. Unfortunately for gamers who recently purchased a Model S or Model X, access to Steam accounts has been disabled.
As reported by Electrek, new owners received notifications upon delivery indicating that the in-vehicle gaming system was “no longer capable of playing Steam games.” Tesla clarified that a recent software update affected only the Steam platform, leaving all other entertainment apps and features unchanged. For those unfamiliar, Steam is a leading digital distribution service for video games.
Tesla launched Steam Beta in late 2022, which added an exciting dimension to its vehicles. While charging at a Supercharger—taking about 15 minutes to reach 80% charge—drivers could access nearly 30,000 games on the Steam platform. Longer wait times at slower chargers? Even better for gaming!
Here’s a promotional video from when the feature was first introduced:
Currently, this change seems to affect only new purchases of the Model S and Model X. According to The Verge, existing owners have not received similar notices. Other models, like the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck, never included the Steam client. The reason for this removal remains unclear, but it’s possible that owners were not fully utilizing the feature due to Tesla’s monitoring systems. Additionally, the company has faced criticism for allowing gameplay while driving, so eliminating this functionality might help them avoid further regulatory scrutiny. Meanwhile, Tesla’s infotainment system still supports streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube, offering users alternative entertainment options. If gaming is off the table, watching professional gamers might suffice—or, as with most tech matters, the option for a hacker always exists.
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