A joint venture formed by Sony and HondaSony Honda Mobility (SHM)Its first electric vehicle, Afeela, is confirmed to become...The first electric vehicle with built-in PS Remote Play function.
This means that while waiting to charge in the car, or during long journeys, the front passenger and back seat passengers can simply take out the DualSense controller and connect directly to their home PlayStation consoles via the in-car screen to continue playing, truly turning the car into a mobile entertainment center.
The internet speed requirement isn't high, but it needs to be stable.
According to official information, Afeela's infotainment system will deeply integrate PS Remote Play functionality. Users can directly stream their PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 screen from home to the large screen in their car.
User experience: Supports direct pairing with DualSense wireless controllers, and the operation feels no different from that at home.
Network requirements: The official statement indicates that the minimum connection requirement is only 5Mbps broadband, but if you want to pursue smooth picture quality and low latency experience, it is recommended that the network speed reach 15Mbps or more.
Back at CES 2024, Sony showcased a gimmick by driving the Afeela prototype onto the stage using the DualSense handlebars, hinting at the close connection between the PlayStation ecosystem and the vehicle. Now, with...Afela 1The first batch of vehicles is expected to be delivered in 2026, and this feature has finally been finalized.
What Tesla abandoned, Sony picked up and did.
When it comes to electric vehicles, Tesla is definitely the first brand that comes to mind. In the past, Tesla's Model S and Model X briefly...Integrating the Steam platformThis feature allowed car owners to utilize the powerful computing capabilities of their in-car computers to run AAA games, but it was later removed for various reasons. NVIDIA had previously also mentioned this feature at CES 2023.AnnounceThis will bring GeForce NOW cloud streaming gaming service to more car models.
In contrast, Sony adopts a "cloud streaming/remote gaming" approach. This approach does not require the automotive chip to have graphics processing power comparable to a desktop computer, nor does it excessively consume the electric vehicle's battery due to full-speed processing. This may be a more suitable gaming solution for electric vehicle scenarios.
Analysis: Sony's "soft power" becomes Afeela's moat.
In my opinion, Sony has finally played this long-awaited "trump card." With electric vehicle hardware specifications (range, horsepower) becoming increasingly homogenized, Sony's biggest advantage has never been its car manufacturing technology (that's Honda's business), but rather its vast audio-visual entertainment empire.
With its PS Remote Play feature, Afeela instantly differentiates itself from other electric vehicles. For hardcore gamers, it's not just a feature, but an extension of their passion.
However, the biggest variable in the actual success of this feature probably doesn't lie in the car itself, but in the coverage and stability of the 5G network. After all, the car is moving, and if the signal is intermittent on the highway, even the best games will be unplayable.
Sony Honda Mobility will be showcased at CES 2026, but Sony itself will not have a separate booth.
Although Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture with Honda, will hold a launch event at CES 2026 and showcase the upcoming Afeela model, the Sony Group has stated that it will not participate in CES 2026 independently. The main reason is to align with its current strategic transformation, shifting its focus from electronic products to entertainment and content creation. Therefore, it has decided to change its participation in CES this year. Consequently, its external communication will obviously not be limited to product demonstrations but will delve deeper into the needs of creators. Perhaps it will also use online updates to communicate product updates to the consumer market in a more flexible way.
