Honda's New Electric Vehicle Will Support PlayStation 5 Gaming via Remote Play

Gaming on the go has been popular among players for decades, and now Sony and Honda are teaming up to bring the power of PlayStation 5 to the road. The two companies formed a joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, in 2022 to produce electric vehicles. Their first car, the Afeela 1, will be released next year and it will include the capability of playing PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 games.

However, there is a limitation to what players can do with their Afeela In-Vehicle Infotainment systems. Sony and Honda aren't including in-car consoles, and they are relying on PlayStation Remote Play for this to work. That means Afeela 1 owners will also need to have either a PS5 or a PS4 at their homes in order to connect with the systems to play games. Sony notes that this use of Remote Play is separate from streaming PS Plus games from the cloud.

This setup includes integrated display and premium audio systems for passengers. It's unclear if the cars come with a PlayStation controller or if players have to bring their own from home. The integration represents a significant step forward in combining automotive technology with gaming entertainment, though it requires existing PlayStation hardware to function.

The introduction of PS Remote Play embodies Afeela's vision for mobility: transforming the traveling space into a captivating and emotional one, said Sony Honda Mobility COO Izumi Kawanishi in a statement. Through this integration, we are elevating the customer's entire travel experience to an unprecedented level of entertainment.

Afeela 1 will be available in California first before it goes nationwide. But aside from a 2026 release window, it doesn't currently have an on-sale date. The regional rollout suggests that Sony Honda Mobility is taking a careful approach to launching this innovative vehicle, ensuring that the technology works properly before expanding to other markets.

The partnership between Sony and Honda represents a unique convergence of gaming and automotive industries. By integrating PlayStation Remote Play into the vehicle's infotainment system, the companies are creating a new category of in-car entertainment that goes beyond traditional music and video streaming services.

The reliance on Remote Play means that the gaming experience will depend on a stable internet connection and the owner's home console being powered on and connected to the internet. This setup allows players to access their full game library while on the road, provided they have the necessary connectivity and their console is set up for remote access.

The premium audio systems mentioned in the announcement suggest that Sony Honda Mobility is serious about creating an immersive gaming experience for passengers. High-quality sound is crucial for many games, and the integration of premium audio technology demonstrates the companies' commitment to delivering a complete entertainment experience.

This innovation comes at a time when electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common, and automakers are looking for ways to differentiate their products. The integration of gaming capabilities could appeal to a younger demographic that values both technology and entertainment, potentially expanding the market for electric vehicles.

The Afeela 1's gaming capabilities represent just one aspect of what Sony Honda Mobility is trying to achieve with this vehicle. By combining Sony's expertise in entertainment technology with Honda's automotive engineering, the joint venture is creating a product that reimagines what a car can be beyond just transportation.

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, partnerships like the one between Sony and Honda demonstrate how different industries can collaborate to create innovative products. The Afeela 1's gaming integration is just the beginning of what could become a standard feature in future vehicles, as automakers seek to provide more value and entertainment options to their customers.