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RidePods Launches, Letting AirPods Steer a Mobile Racer Hands-Free

Early hands-on tests highlight responsive head-tilt steering alongside visible glitches and limited depth.

Overview

  • The free iPhone and iPad game is available on the App Store and uses AirPods’ motion sensors for left–right steering without touch input.
  • Supported models include AirPods Pro (all generations), AirPods 3 and 4, and AirPods Max with head tracking and Spatial Audio hardware.
  • Reviewers report reliable steering even with a single earbud, though a forward–back tilt option for braking and acceleration shows inconsistent effects.
  • The Verge describes noticeable visual issues like the road briefly disappearing and characterizes the title as more tech demo than fully polished game.
  • Developer Ali Tanis announced the release on Y Combinator and said parts of the implementation required reverse engineering despite Apple exposing some headphone motion data to apps.