- Kyle Chua
CES 2023: Sony Unveils Afeela EV, Project Leonardo PS5 Controller
Sony broke CES tradition this year by showing up to the trade show without new TVs to exhibit. The supposed reason for which is that the Japanese electronics giant wanted all the attention to be on two key products: the PSVR2 headset and the Afeela electric vehicle (EV).
Taking the stage today, Sony and Honda's joint mobility venture finally announced its first vehicle brand, the Afeela. Pre-orders for the EV starts in mid-2025, with the first shipments arriving in the U.S. in spring of 2026.
A prototype of the vehicle was showcased during the Sony's press conference at CES 2023. Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno said the vehicle would leverage Sony's expertise in various technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual and augmented reality to truly let drivers feel "the sensation of interactive mobility".
While details about the EV remain thin, Sony Honda Mobility did say the prototype has a total of 45 interior and exterior sensors to help deliver a unique driving experience. Qualcomm is also supplying the chip that'll power the vehicle, with Sony covering the entertainment side of the partnership. From the brief snippets shown, the large centre console and the screens mounted on the seats can play movies, music and PlayStation games. Epic Games was also tapped to provide the graphical interfaces.
The prototype also has a display in the front bumper, which can show different information like the Afeela branding, the car's battery life and the weather.
Sony PlayStation was also present during the conference to further showcase the PlayStation VR2 headset (PSVR2) ahead of its launch next month.
More than 30 games will be available alongside the headset, including Horizon Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil: Village. What's more, the PlayStation 5 exclusive Gran Turismo 7 is also coming to the platform via a free upgrade for those who already own the game. Beat saber, the popular VR rhythm game, is also in development for PSVR 2, with details to be shared on a later date.
Sony also announced a new, accessibility-focused PS5 controller, codenamed Project Leonardo. The controller is designed to be highly adaptable to fit disabled players' specific needs. It can work as a standalone peripheral or in tandem with the existing DualSense controller. Sony said the controller is still in development, so no release details as of yet.
Sony took the CES stage to announce the brand of its first electric vehicle, Afeela.
Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno said the vehicle would leverage Sony's expertise in various technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual and augmented reality to truly let drivers feel "the sensation of interactive mobility"
The prototype of the vehicle comes equipped with a total of 45 interior and exterior sensors.
Sony also announced a new, accessibility-focused PS5 controller, codenamed Project Leonardo.