Sony showcased a concept technology designed to immerse players fully into the world of PlayStation games at the 2025 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The company’s “Future Immersive Entertainment Concept” will allow players to not only see and engage with enemies but also smell the environments, as demonstrated with “The Last of Us.”
The “Future Immersive Entertainment Concept” consists of a massive, cubic space, akin to a multiplayer VR experience, where ultra-high-resolution screens completely envelop the player with the game world. Unlike existing VR systems, players are fully immersed without a headset.
To enhance realism further, Sony includes “engaging audio” alongside “scent and atmospheric effects” that interact directly with PlayStation game content.
In the demonstration, players wielded replica weapons to engage with “Clickers” from “The Last of Us” and reportedly experienced unpleasant odours such as rotting fungi.
Sony adapted “The Last of Us” gameplay for the demonstration, showcasing the concept’s immersive capabilities.
This provides a clear example of how future games could be experienced in a real-world setting.
While the technology is very exciting, it’s likely still years away from being ready for practical application and will come at a significant cost.
Sony will need to address the limitations to effectively reach the mass market.
The company could potentially use this technology with other popular game series, such as “God of War” and “Horizon”, for future demos and showcases.
