Sony drives its first car onstage using a PS5 DualSense controller

[midian182]

What just happened? The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is often hailed as one of the best console controllers of all time. As demonstrated at Sony's CES event, it can even be used to control a real car. The gaming giant has partnered with Honda to create its first electric vehicle, which was driven onstage by an executive using the PS5 input device.

Izumi Kawanishi, president of Sony Honda Mobility, showed off the company's first electric car, the Afeela, at CES using a DualSense controller. A video feed from inside the cabin shows the yoke steering wheel moving as Kawanishi maneuvered the car slowly across the stage (around 29 minutes in the video below).

The idea of several people all controlling their own Afeela with a DualSense in some kind of real-world Forza Horizon might sound cool but Kawanishi did say that the controller was for the purposes of the tech showcase only.

"However, we believe that software can define new function and value. We want to redefine the relationship between people and mobility," he said.

If the Afeela can't be controlled with a DualSense when it goes on sale, why show this sort of functionality on stage? It's likely due to it being the car's third appearance at CES, so Sony wanted to do something that makes headlines – which it has. Plus, it'll probably give hackers ideas.

One Sony influence that will be in the Afeela is the use of Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5.3 within the car's massive infotainment system. The game engine will be used to create 3D maps, virtual spaces, and augmented reality views, capturing details such as vehicles, pedestrians, terrain, and even the weather. CNET writes that the screen can have internet-sourced metadata overlaid on the maps, and that media from Sony's catalog of movies, games, and TV shows will be available for passengers to enjoy, or when the car is parked and charging.

Unreal Engine 5.3 is being used to train the Afeela's multicamera driver assistance systems, too. Sony also announced a partnership with Microsoft that will see the Redmond's Azure AI cloud-scale computing tech used in the car's development.

Sony plans for the Afeela to launch in the US sometime during 2026. The company hasn't revealed details such as price or range. We're also going to see the car in Gran Turismo 7 at some point later this year.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/101467-sony-drives-first-car-onstage-using-ps5-dualsense.html

 

[Puiu]

Now give that controller to a 12yo, mount a camera on the car, stream that camera to the TV and tell the kid that he's playing the new GTA VI

 

[hahahanoobs]

Tough market. Good luck.

 

[NoLifeDGenerate]

Someone ask Sony if we can ever expect their goddamn Dualsense Edge controller in black. I hate this white trend they're pushing with PS5.

 

[EdmondRC]

Imagine finding out that a teenager took your car for a joyride in the comfort of his own bedroom using his PS5 controller, some hacking software off github, and your car's driving camera.

 

[3volv3d]

If I hit triangle accidently I get ejected... hold triangle and the dead hooker in the boot is revealed.
Well at least I had the money for a hooker...

Im kidding, I can't afford hookers, thats why she's a dead a hooker.

 

[antiproduct]

No need for controller rumble if you get into an accident...

 

[p51d007]

Eventually, it will look like Men In Black

https://I.imgflip.com/1g7xu5.jpg

 

[Jack77]

Mmm, what else was steered with a PS-controller? Anyway, as long as the Afeela doesn't implode, all will be fine, I guess.

 

[Skjorn]

Hate the steering wheel. Just because a car is electric and boring doesn't mean it has to be stupid too.

Please stop with the horrible steering wheels. Please stop with ultra economy look. Make it cheap don't make it look cheap. Get rid of the giant screens on the dash. The tachometer is terrible. Lines are bad, wheels are ugly. I find the continuous brake light ugly and probably a pita to replace if it got cracked. It looks like they wanted it to look like a Silvia/200SX but said nah we can't look THAT cool. Give it the ugly EV look everyone else is trying to do.
Companies really need to learn not to let ESL speakers on stage in mostly English countries to try and speak in English. I can hardly understand that dude, he's trying, I'm trying, shouldn't have to hard focus just to understand words during a speech this important for Sony.

 

[ferrellsl]

Wow, talk about tone deaf. Recently a submarine controlled by a PlayStation controller went down with all its occupants on a sightseeing tour of the Titanic. What kind of message is Sony trying to send us?

 

[Ultraman1966]

Is it too late to change that stupid name?

 

[nulll]

Sooo I suppose we can expect the physics engine in GT7 to get properly sorted any day now then I would guess?

 

[ddferrari]

I assume that controller wasn't plagued with stick drift, or it would have been a very bad day for those in attendance, GTA V style!

 

[AMN3S1AC]

Wow, talk about tone deaf. Recently a submarine controlled by a PlayStation controller went down with all its occupants on a sightseeing tour of the Titanic. What kind of message is Sony trying to send us?

That was Logitech.

 

[erickmendes]

I hope drivers update don't brick the car

 

[ZackL04]

Didn't we just see this movie (under water) end poorly?