Players have always found a way to play games on anything with a screen. Fridges, LEGO Game Boys, printers, calculators, you name it. If there’s a display, someone has tried to put a game on it. Well, now, they’ve done it with cars’ brake lights.
As technology pushes vehicles into rolling entertainment hubs, gaming is finding its way into every aspect of a car. Screens in the backseat, consoles while charging, even official integrations are becoming the norm. Xbox recently partnered with LG to bring cloud gaming into vehicles, letting passengers stream full titles on in-car displays.
But one player has taken things a step further. Instead of using the dashboard or the backseat monitor, they decided to play Contra on the rear brake display of their car.
Fan spotted playing Contra on their car’s brake light
The clip, posted to Reddit, shows the iconic 8-bit run and gun shooter playing out where brake lights normally shine. The car in question is an MG IM6, an electric SUV already designed with multiple interactive screens, the brake lights being one of them.
Contra itself is a brutal choice. Released in the late 80s, it’s famous for fast pacing, punishing difficulty, and split-second reactions. It’s a game where a single mistake can end your run, making it a challenge even under normal circumstances. Seeing it play out on the back of a vehicle raises the question: Is it actually live or just a recording?
The footage doesn’t make it clear. It could be a clever loop set to run on the display. But if it is being played in real time, it’s a seriously impressive modification. Running Contra through a system designed for brake signaling would mean syncing controls, video output, and refresh rates on hardware never intended for it.
Fans were quick to react to the stunt, with one comment summing up the hype: “I would buy that car just for that feature.”
Real or not, it’s certainly an impressive feature, and if they are playing Contra in their car, they’re doing pretty well. But the real question is, can it run Crysis?
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