AirPods Get a Newโข Life as a โGame Controller with “RidePods”
CUPERTINO, โCA โค- โSeptember 28, 2025 – Apple’s AirPods are now capable โขof controlling a video game, thanksโฃ to a newlyโ released App Storeโข titleโข called RidePods – race with Head. โDeveloper Ali Tanis has โคingeniously repurposed tehโ motion-sensing capabilities within spatial audio-enabled AirPods to create a unique motorbike racing experience โsteered entirely by head movements.
This marks โthe first instance โof a game utilizingโฃ AirPods as a motion controller, potentially unlockingโฃ a โnew avenue for interactive experiences on Apple devices. RidePods โขallows players to navigate a โvirtual racetrackโ by tilting their head left and right,โข while โforward and backward head motions control accelerationโค and braking. the breakthrough demonstrates the untapped potentialโ of Apple’s hardware and could inspire developers to explore innovativeโ applications beyond audio.
Tanis discovered the possibility while working onโฃ a separate project weeks ago, realizing the AirPods’ spatial sound sensors could beโ interpreted as motion data. He quickly developed RidePods, wich Apple later approved for distribution โฃon theโ App Store.
Currently, the game is โขcompatible only with AirPods Pro and the third and fourth generations โฃof AirPods, whichโค feature the necessary โmotion sensors. The developer shared a demonstration โฃof the gameplay โคon โขTwitter, showcasing the head-controlled steering.
The implications extend โbeyond a single motorbike game. Tanis’sโฃ work highlights a creative use of โขexisting Appleโ APIs, suggesting โคa future where motion-controlled applicationsโฃ become more prevalentโค on iPhones and iPads. This advancement could spur โขfurther innovation โฃin gaming โand other interactive fields, offering developers new ways to engage users.
