A year after presenting the first prototype, Sony has returned to the stage at the CES in Las Vegas to reveal more details of the AFEELA, its electric car developed together with Honda that will stand out for offering a different software experience than other plug-in vehicles. The Japanese company has confirmed that this model, available in 2026, will have AI functions from Microsoft and that, in addition, It can be controlled with the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.
It is probably one of the most striking characteristics of AFEELA; model that will also be available virtually through the game Gran Turismo 7 in an update that will arrive throughout 2024. As Sony demonstrated in a conference during CES, It is possible to move the vehicle using the controls of a DualSense for PlayStation 5. In the following video we can see how the car appears on the stage thanks to the directions that the Sony executive makes with the control, and how from inside the vehicle the steering wheel moves to turn slightly.
It is, however, a simple demonstration of what Sony is capable of doing in terms of the integration of its products. In fact, everything indicates that it will not be a final featuresince regulators would hardly approve it.
Therefore, those who purchase an AFEELA will not be able to control their model with the PS5 controller. In any case, it is not something that provides much confidence if we take into account that the OceanGate Titan submersible, which imploded in the Atlantic Ocean, was controlled by a $40 Logitech controller.
Sony is also working with Microsoft to bring more software experiences to its first electric car
In parallel, Sony has confirmed that AFEELA will have features powered by Microsoft AI; Azure AI, which in turn uses OpenAI models such as GPT-4 and ChatGPT. The Japanese company’s car will have what Sony calls a “personalized conversational agent.” It is a kind of virtual assistant that, among other things, will help you drive.
Sony and Honda They are also collaborating with Epic Games to bring multimedia experiences to your first electric vehicle. The firm has highlighted that the AFEELA will have Unreal Engine 5.3 that will allow games like Fortnite to run. In fact, Sony has already shown what it would look like in the screen system that the vehicle will include on the dashboard.
The AFEELA, we reiterate, It can be purchased from 2026, although for the moment only in the United States. The vehicle is being developed through a joint venture called Sony Honda Mobility (SHM). Sony is in charge of the software and experience part, while Honda is in charge of the mechanical part. The model will also have an autonomous driving system with the help of up to 45 sensors.