Summary
Sonyused the PlayStation 5’s DualSense wireless controller to drive drive a real-life vehicle onstage at CES 2024. The peripheral, perhaps not surprisingly, is useful for more than just moving characters around a game world or driving simulated vehicles in racing titles.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has long been a prime event to showcase wild innovations from the electronics industry. Companies likeSonyand Samsung unveil concept items, as well as upcoming or newly released products, to get the press and public excited about their technological capabilities and creativity.
In this case, Sony showed off its brand-new concept car, the Afeela, which was created in collaboration with Japanese car manufacturer Honda. TheAfeela was first unveiled at CES 2023. To showcase what he called a “Software-Designed Vehicle,” Sony Honda Mobility President Izumi Kawanishi used thefeature-rich DualSense controllerto remotely drive the car to the center of the platform at Sony’s press conference. As it was driven out, the Afeela’s headlights lit up the darkened stage, and cameras mounted inside the cabin proved that the vehicle had no hidden driver at the steering wheel.
Kawanishi was quick to clarify that the DualSense compatibility was only a tech demo. Its point was to show Sony and Honda’s belief “that software can define new function and value.” On that point, Kawanishi highlighted the Afeela’s camera-equipped “AI vision system,” used to aid automatic driving. He also mentioned its Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) Simulator, which runs Epic Games' popular game engine.Unreal Engine 5 is powering a number of new and upcoming game releases, but in the Afeela, it’s used to display footage of the world around the car, projecting it onto the internal screens and enhancing it with multimedia apps.
At an event centered around tech like CES, Sony’s trick with the Afeela and DualSense was particularly memorable. In that moment, it seemed like a reversal of PlayStation tech’s usual promise, as rather than usePS5 hardware like the PSVR2 to provide immersive virtual worlds, it was employed to affect the real world.
Some people will likely be disappointed that the ability to control a car with a PS5 controller is just a one-time tech demo. Sony is particularly proud of the PS5’s signature controller and has incorporated it into multiple devices so far, including the PlayStation Portal, PSVR 2, and PS5 Access Controller. Perhaps what Sony has planned withpotential new versions of the DualSensewill see further non-game related use in the future.
Sony DualSense Wireless Controller
Sony’s DualSense is not only compatible with iOS and Android phones, but it also features an upgraded design that looks great and feels comfortable when playing, thanks to its textured grips. It features a headset and built-in microphone that allows gamers to use commands in compatible titles or chat with friends online.
