CES 2025 is in full swing, and there are a ton of innovations on display this time around. Sony has also joined the fray, bringing new technologies to the forefront – one of which includes the ability to let players ‘smell’ environments while in-game via its PlayStation.
It’s a very interesting piece of technology, but its future implications (and mass adoption) still remain to be seen at this point in time.
Titled the ‘Future Immersive Entertainment Concept’, the technology was showcased during the Consumer Electronics Show within a specialized room tailor crafted to deliver precise, acute audio-sensory experiences unlike anything that is available in the consumer market currently.
The small, box-like room includes multiple video screens and other ambient response inducing tech. As depicted in a trailer, participants were given the opportunity to navigate through a familiar game – The Last of Us, using this very setup.
The inclusion of The Last of Us should not come as a surprise to anyone, given the title’s massive surge in popularity in recent years, as well as its use of atmospheric storytelling and detailed environments, which seem to be a perfect fit for the demo.
The game had been tweaked to add in new atmospheric effects, which include spatial audio, haptics and of course – smell, all to deliver a cohesive, immersive experience like no other.
According to Sony, this is part of their ‘narrative everywhere’ goal, which aims to transcend the traditional video game storytelling medium into something much greater.
While certainly impressive, the whole scope of the project is at best quite limited in the current state, given it relies on so many components to succeed – in a rather limited manner of execution.
It’s definitely an interesting move from Sony though, and we should see further interactivity fuelled with the amalgamation of AR for video games as a medium in general.
