Sony has introduced its groundbreaking Future Immersive Entertainment Concept, a new gaming system that adds scents and 4D elements to elevate the gaming experience.
Revealed at CES 2025, the innovative system transforms gameplay into a multi-sensory adventure within a room-sized setup featuring screens on every wall.
A trailer for the concept showcases players immersed in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, enhanced by dynamic audio, haptics and scents that recreate the game’s world. Players also interact with the environment using tools like a torch that highlights specific areas, offering a fresh take on storytelling.
“One of Sony’s creative pillars is narrative everywhere, where stories transcend traditional mediums,” the trailer explains. “This concept combines Sony Crystal LED panels, immersive audio, haptics, scent and atmospherics to fully engage players in the story’s world.”
Though Sony has not announced plans to commercialise this system, the technology mirrors similar 4D experiences in theme parks and cinemas. Sony filed a patent for smell-based technology in 2023, following the immersive innovations of the DualSense controller.
Notably, the gaming industry has experimented with scent technology before, including Microsoft’s pizza-scented Xbox controllers.
[Image created via MidJourney]