Tata Sierra.ev: AirConsole Turns the Cabin Into a Gaming Console, Phone Included
N-Dream
Tata's Sierra.ev EV turns its cabin screens into a gaming console — scan a QR code and your smartphone becomes the controller, no extra hardware needed.
To start a game in the Tata Sierra.ev, you don’t need to buy a separate controller. A QR code appears on the car’s screen, a passenger scans it with their smartphone, and the phone turns into a gamepad. AirConsole made its India debut on this very Tata EV, and the system is built right into the infotainment stack rather than mirroring the phone’s display.
About 15 quizzes, arcade titles and party games are available at launch. Among them is the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Video plays on the car’s screens, audio runs through the built-in sound system, and each player can have their own set of controls and information on their phone.
Tata’s official site confirms AirConsole is available starting with the Adventure trim, bundled as part of the Arcade.ev package. Higher trims add the Horizon View triple-screen setup. Arcade.ev as a whole includes more than 30 apps for games, video and other entertainment.
The real catch isn’t the hardware — it’s the subscription. Tata provides Arcade.ev for one year, after which owners need to renew the Ultra package through the iRA.ev service to keep using it. So having the app in the menu doesn’t mean the games will run free for the whole time you own the car.
The Sierra.ev itself starts from 1.879 million rupees in India, roughly $22,600 at current exchange rates. That’s the price of the base version, which doesn’t include AirConsole — the Adventure trim costs more. The conversion doesn’t account for local taxes, delivery or import costs elsewhere.
AirConsole is a networked platform: smartphones need an internet connection, though the games themselves run on the car’s onboard computer rather than being a simple screen mirror. Each player needs their own phone, so a long session will also drain some phone battery.
Tata positions the feature as entertainment for charging stops, waiting for passengers, or a break during a road trip. A game on the central screen is not a license to get distracted while driving. Before using it, owners should check whether the app locks once the car starts moving, and whether a separate passenger display can run independently of the driver’s zone.
