Best Tesla game controllers and how to connect them

By Nuno Cristovao

Teslas have a wide array of entertainment options from Netflix to Caraoke to a growing list of video games. Sky Force Reloaded was recently released and it offers great gameplay with a controller. Some video games are meant for a touch screen such as 2048, while others are meant to be played with a controller. In fact, some games like Cuphead, can only be played with a controller.

game controllers compatible with Tesla

Unfortunately not all controllers will work with a Tesla, especially if you’re looking for a wireless solution. Although the good news is that you may already have a controller that works.

Wired Controllers

By far the easiest and lowest cost to entry is with a wired option. I actually recommend going this route unless you think you’ll be using your controller often. The wireless options are more complicated and costlier.

The good news is that if you have any recent game consoles, you likely already have a controller that is compatible with your Tesla. The bad news is that it’ll only work when attached via a USB cable unless you get an adapter.

Xbox One or PS4 controllers

If you have wired or wireless Xbox One or PS4 controllers, you'll be able to use them in your Tesla by simply plugging them up to the car's front USB ports. Unfortunately, Xbox 360 controllers will not work.

There are a wide variety of supported wired controllers. If you have one, I’d recommend trying it before going out and buying something else. However, if you don’t already have a controller that works, there are a few good options that won’t break the bank.

Logitech controller compatible with Tesla

Logitech F310 Wired Controller

This is an inexpensive option and a good choice if you don't need a controller for anything else. This is the likely the least expensive controller you'll find by a reputable company that will work in your Tesla.

Keep in mind even though some of the controllers above are wireless, they must be plugged in to the front USB ports in order to work.

Wireless Controllers

Although there are currently no wireless controllers that can connect directly to your Tesla, there are a few options if you’d like to go wireless.

Logitech Gamepad F710

Logitech wireless controller compatible with Tesla

The Logitech F710 is a great choice because of its ease of connectivity and price. It comes with everything you need to just starting playing. It uses a nano USB receiver that is synced to the controller, so all you have to do is simply plug it in and use the controller.

8Bitdo Wireless Controller Adapter

Use your controller wirelessly with Tesla

If you’d like to use an existing controller wirelessly, then you can use this adapter by 8Bitdo that will let your controller communicate wirelessly with your Tesla.

This adapter supports a large array of controllers, including: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch Joy-cons, Wii U and Switch Pro controllers.

MayFlash Wireless Controller Adapter

Use your controller wirelessly with Tesla

As an alternative, you can also use this adapter by MayFlash that will also let your controller communicate wirelessly with your Tesla.

You'll simply plug this adapter into your Tesla's USB port then sync your controller to the adapter. The adapter will translate the controller's wireless signals into wired signals your Tesla can understand.

Tip: In order to connect any controllers or adapters to your Tesla you will need to plug them up to either the front USB ports or the USB port in the glovebox if you have one. The rear USB ports only provide power output.

USB Hubs

Jeda USB Hub Console

Jeda USB Hub for Tesla

If you don’t have enough free USB ports then you'll need USB Hub. Jeda makes a great USB hub that wil also charge your AirPods and Apple Watch.

Anker 4-port USB hub

cheap USB hub for Tesla

This Anker USB hub is an inexpensive way to get more USB ports in your car. It provides four USB ports and will be great to be able to plug in additional game controllers.

Now that you have a controller that works in your Tesla, get gaming! There are quite a few great games that support controllers and the list is growing all the time. The latest game, Sky Force Reloaded is a fantastic game that allows two player co-op.

Here are a list of games that support controllers:

  • Sky Force Reloaded
  • Gravitar
  • Tempest
  • Millipede
  • Missile Command
  • Lunar Lander
  • Super Breakout
  • Centipede
  • Asteroids
  • Beach Buggy Racing 2
  • Cuphead (controller required to play)
  • Stardew Valley
  • Cat Quest (controller required to play)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (controller required to play)

If you have a controller that works great for you, let us know.

Tesla Officially Unveils Bigger, 6-Seater Model Y L

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla has unveiled its 6-seat Model Y variant in China, known as the Model Y L. This new variant of one of the world’s best-selling vehicles comes with a longer wheelbase, adjusted C-pillar design, and most importantly, a six-seat interior layout.

The vehicle’s specifications have been officially listed in a filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), confirming a launch for this fall.

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The addition of a longer wheelbase and a more spacious third row is a fantastic addition for the Model Y’s family utility, and positions this variant as sort of a mini Model X, but let’s compare the sizes to really know how this new Model Y compares to a Model X.

Meet the Model Y L

The defining feature of the new Model Y L is its six-seat configuration. This layout has previously been exclusive to the larger and more expensive Model X. While Tesla has offered the Model Y in a 7-seat configuration before, the third row was much too small to be utilized by anyone but small children.

Comparing Model Y L to the Model X

@xiaoteshushu on X

Let’s compare this upcoming Model Y L to the regular Model Y and the Model X.

Vehicle/Dimension

Wheelbase

Overall Length

Model Y

2,890mm / 113.8 in

4,797mm / 188.9 in

Model Y L

3,040mm / 119.7 in

4,976mm / 195.9 in

Model X

2,965mm / 116.7 in

5,060mm / 199.2 in

The new wheelbase of 3,040mm is a significant stretch from the standard wheelbase, and in fact, is longer than the Model X’s wheelbase of 2,965mm. However, the overall length of the vehicle is 84mm (~3 inches) shorter than the Model X. This means the vehicle sits neatly between the current Model Y and Model X, filling a much-needed gap.

While this Model Y L is slightly smaller than the Model X, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s smaller inside. The Model X features a much larger front end than the Model Y, accounting for several inches. When you line up the front wheel base of the Model X with this new Model Y, the vehicles are almost exactly the same length.

Tesla has designed this Model Y to be a bit more compact and efficient than the Model X, and likely much cheaper, while featuring the well-loved design of the new Model Y.

Other Specifications and Price

The MIIT filing also provided a detailed look at some additional specifications. The Model Y L is a dual-motor, AWD variant, so it will likely be more expensive than the current Model Y AWD that’s available in China today. Tesla charges an additional $6,500 USD when upgrading the Model X from a 5-seat configuration to a 6-seat layout, so we may see something similar here.

The extra length has been added behind the C-pillar, resulting in a longer rear profile for the Model Y L. To accompany this, Tesla has added an updated rear spoiler, similar to the one found on Performance variants, but not carbon fiber. There is also a new wheel design to complement the updated look, along with unique Model Y L badging and a new light gold paint option.

In classic Tesla fashion, no Tesla is slow - and the Y L has a 0-100 km/h (0-60mph) time of 5.9s, with a top speed of 217km/h. Alongside an 82.5 kWh LFP battery pack, the Model Y L boasts an impressive CLTC range of 688 km (427 mi).

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Launch & Availability

According to posts from Tesla China on Chinese social media, the new Model Y L is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2025. Its official listing in the MIIT database is essentially the final regulatory step required before sales can begin, which means the launch is really just around the corner. For now, it appears that Tesla intends to launch this vehicle only in China, as no other filings have been made in other regions. However, these could be revealed in the coming months.

The new Model Y L is a huge addition to Tesla’s lineup - one that addresses the Chinese preference for vehicles with longer wheelbases and additional passenger room in a compact SUV package. The question is - will this variant make its way to North America and Europe?

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Tesla’s Dojo 2 Supercomputer Chip Enters Mass Production

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Solving real-world artificial intelligence - whether for autonomous driving, real-world robotics, or advanced reasoning - requires an almost unfathomable amount of computational power. To meet this challenge, Tesla has been developing its own custom AI training hardware while simultaneously purchasing hardware in the open market.

Now, the next-generation Dojo 2 chip has reportedly entered mass production with the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, TSMC. While many may consider this a side quest, expanding Tesla’s computing base will be necessary to achieve exascale supercomputing, which will be crucial for all of Tesla’s AI ambitions.

Elon Musk called Dojo 2 “a good computer,” and then followed up with a classic computer performance joke - Dojo 2 can indeed play Crysis at a billion frames per second.

Exascale AI: FSD, Optimus, and More

While Tesla has effectively utilized powerful third-party GPUs to train its models to date, the Dojo supercomputer is a ground-up, application-specific solution designed for a single purpose. It will efficiently process massive amounts of video data for training neural networks. The Dojo 2 chip itself is the key that unlocks this potential.

Dojo 2 will train the vision-based neural nets that FSD relies on, allowing Tesla to process video from its massive global fleet of vehicles even faster. As Tesla continues to improve FSD, one of the biggest challenges has been the intake of video for handling difficult edge cases.

Hundreds of thousands of miles of training data may pass by before an edge case is identified and trained on, but it all needs to be analyzed, labeled, and processed, which is key for Dojo 2. Each new useful piece of training data will help Tesla proceed down the march of 9s, making FSD just that little bit better every time.

This process requires massive amounts of compute and training time - but it is an absolute necessity to improve FSD. Of course, this goes beyond just FSD in vehicles. Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, also runs on FSD to navigate and interact with the physical world. 

While it may be a custom version of FSD, it remains FSD at its core, which means the same neural nets that analyze the environment and build a 3D map of the world for your car perform the same work for Optimus.

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Custom Approach to AI Hardware

Dojo 2’s power doesn’t just come from raw compute; it comes from a series of architectural choices that make it excel at training FSD and differentiate it from general-purpose hardware, or even other AI-specific hardware.

To this end, Tesla is using TSMC’s new Integrated Fan-Out with Silicon-on-Wafer (InFO-SoW) packaging technology. For massive AI workloads, heat and the speed at which data moves between chips are often the biggest bottlenecks.

This new packaging technique allows for high-bandwidth connections directly between processing dies, which lowers latency and dramatically improves heat dissipation, all key to building massive and dense compute clusters.

Unlike general-purpose chips, Dojo 2 is designed with a custom instruction set, specifically built to train FSD. The cores are specifically made to accelerate the exact mathematical operations, like matrix multiples and systolic arrays, which form the backbone of Tesla’s vision-based neural networks.

By building its own hardware, Tesla can then integrate its own software and compilers directly with the silicon, optimizing for specific workloads and avoiding the performance penalties that can result from using third-party software, such as Nvidia’s CUDA.

The start of Dojo 2 may seem like a side quest for some, but it’s actually a key step for Tesla’s AI technologies that give them an advantage over the competition using off-the-shelf hardware. They’ll need to continue investing in custom hardware to improve FSD at a reasonable pace, rather than the current glacial pace we’ve seen over the last few months.

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