The Tesla Model S and Model X now offer Steam integration, making it possible to stream games to an Apple TV using the Steam Link app.
A Reddit user has revealed a hack to play Steam games on an Apple TV using a Tesla. To increase patronage and retain existing customers, Tesla has heavily invested in entertainment options for its cars. Users can stream Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube on their car screens, or play games like Beach Buggy Racing 2, Cuphead, Cyberpunk 2077, Fallout Shelter, and more via Tesla Arcade.
Tesla recently announced its annual Holiday Update which brought many new features to its cars, including support for Apple Music and Steam games. Taking advantage of the latter, Reddit user u/tearaway_Tea (via Electrek) revealed a hack that allows Tesla Model S and Model X owners to stream games from their car’s computer to an Apple TV. The workaround is made possible using the Steam Link app. All that’s required for this to work is for the Tesla and Apple TV to be connected to the same local network.
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The hack is certainly an ingenious one – by downloading the Steam Link app on the Apple TV, Tesla users can play their entire Steam library without investing in an additional gaming computer. Plus, playing games on a big-screen TV at home is a much better gaming experience than using a wireless controller inside the cramped confines of a Tesla. The only requisite for this to work, apart from being on the same local network, is that the Tesla needs to be within range of the Apple TV. That should be pretty manageable if the car is parked in a garage, but it might not work in an apartment building.
While the hack makes for a fun experiment, it doesn’t really make sense given that a person who plays Steam games on their Tesla is likely to have a gaming rig at home too. It’s worth noting that only Model S and X units built in the last two years can run Steam games, since they have powerful gaming computers. The top-end models in Tesla’s lineup both feature prices of $100,000 and above, making these pricier EVs exempt from the federal tax credit that kicks in for the cheaper Model 3 and Model Y in 2023.
In the meantime, Tesla is offering double the discount on the Model 3 and Y, matching the maximum $7,500 credit offered by the U.S. government. The discount is only for deliveries until Dec. 31, 2022. Any vehicles delivered after that date will be eligible for a tax rebate, which means buyers won’t miss out either way. While neither of these cars support Steam integration, their cheaper prices make them the most popular Tesla models.
Source: u/tearaway_Tea/Reddit, Electrek
