PlayStation Adds Smells to Games With New Tech

Sony has unveiled a new gaming system that adds smells to games. The Future Immersive Entertainment Concept was revealed at CES 2025. This new technology lets players experience scents while playing games like The Last Of Us.

The setup is room-sized, with screens on every wall. It also uses advanced sound, haptic feedback, and scent features. In a demo, players explored The Last Of Us with smells and a torch to light up parts of the game.

Sony says this is part of its plan to create “narrative everywhere.” The system uses Crystal LED panels, immersive audio, haptics, and scent effects to make gaming feel more real.

A Step Toward 4D Gaming

Sony has not announced when this system will be available. The idea is similar to 4D experiences in theme parks. Sony’s work on scent-based gaming builds on its 2023 patent for smell-o-vision. It also follows the success of the DualSense controller, which added haptic feedback to games.

Other companies have tried adding smells to gaming. In 2013, Microsoft tested a scent-emitting controller. In 2023, Xbox released pizza-scented controllers to promote a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

What’s Next for Sony?

This new system is still a prototype. Fans of The Last Of Us can look forward to the second season of the HBO show, coming in April 2025.

Sony continues to explore new ways to make gaming more immersive. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting new technology!