Sony’s immersive gaming concept lets players sniff monsters in The Last of Us

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.

TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.

Smelly Games: Sony at CES 2025 unveiled an immersive demo set in the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us. Naughty Dog’s acclaimed action-adventure series features hostile humans transformed into cannibalistic creatures by a mutated fungus. Now, Sony aims to elevate one of PlayStation’s most successful franchises into a more physical – and undoubtedly terrifying – experience.

Have you ever wondered what the hideous hosts of the Cordyceps fungus in The Last of Us might smell like? Sony is betting that plenty of people have – and built its Future Immersive Entertainment Concept (FIEC) around this eerie idea. The one-time demonstration debuted at CES 2025, showcasing Sony’s vision for translating gaming narratives into entirely new mediums.

The Japanese tech giant designed a large, interactive room where “players” were surrounded by cutting-edge Crystal LED panels. Upon entering the enclosed space, visitors could immerse themselves in interactive content pulled directly from The Last of Us series. The experience was enhanced by dynamic audio, haptic feedback, atmospheric scents, and other sensory effects to bring the game’s haunting world to life.

Sony described FIEC as a potential glimpse into the future of large-scale, immersive experiences. Players could interact with the environment using real-world tools, such as illuminating a specific area with a flashlight or firing at fungal creatures emerging from the shadows.

A scent-enabled, fungus-equipped FIEC setup is undoubtedly a costly experience to create, making it unlikely to become a mass-produced product anytime soon. Sony has also faced criticism for investing in esoteric technologies that many consumers didn’t ask for – this while still marketing the pricey PSVR2 headset to PlayStation and PC users.

At the moment, Sony doesn’t seem interested in expanding console-based VR experiences beyond the PSVR2. Instead, the PlayStation company appears to be exploring other innovative entertainment formats.

Naughty Dog first released The Last of Us in 2013, followed by additional downloadable content and a remake. The series’ proper sequel, The Last of Us Part II, debuted in 2020 and is now being ported to PC in a “remastered” edition.

In recent years, the franchise has reached a broader audience thanks to HBO’s award-winning live-action series starring Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal. A second season is set to premiere in April 2025, with a third season already in development.