Sony Honda Mobility’s AFEELA EV Set to Become First Production Vehicle with In-Car PS Remote Play

Sony Honda Mobility’s AFEELA electric vehicle will introduce something entirely new to in-car entertainment: native connectivity with PS Remote Play. To be clear, this is the first time that any production automobile has integrated this feature directly into its infotainment system.

Drivers and passengers will be able to stream games from their home PS5 or PS4 consoles directly to the car’s displays. The video and controls are handled by the car’s in-car entertainment system, which simplifies the process. So passengers can just jump into whatever game they’re playing on the rear seat screens, which are situated on the back of the front seats. The superior audio system would provide you with a fully immersive experience. The driver can also use the feature, but only when the car is parked, which is typically during a charging stop or while waiting to begin moving.

The system operates similarly to any other Remote Play setup: there is a powered-on console at home that transmits the game over the internet to the AFEELA. To get started, simply pair a DualSense controller inside the car, and you can manage the console’s interface via the car’s touchscreen. The system supports the whole library of PS5 and PS4 compatible games, with no additional hardware required beyond the entertainment setup.

The quality of the connection is critical here, as Sony Honda Mobility believes you need at least 5mbps broadband speed to get the feature to work at all. However, if you have 15mbps, you will enjoy a smoother experience with less lag and better video. As with any Remote Play setup, the network conditions will dictate how smoothly everything works. As previously stated, the AFEELA 1 is the first production model to include this function, and deliveries will begin in California in 2026.

Sony Honda Mobility appears to think this is a game changer for road trips, and their representative director president and COO, Izumi Kawanishi, believes that PS Remote Play allows the cabin to become an area for true enjoyment rather than just a boring old place to sit. For anyone who already has a PlayStation console, it’s a great way to bring that world into the automobile without having to sign up for a bunch of new subscriptions or cloud dependencies.

The integration is the result of years of development by the Sony-Honda alliance, which has been testing this type of technology in early prototypes at CES 2024. And, as we all know, in an EV market where many vehicles provide very comparable screens and audio systems, having a direct connection to the world of PlayStation will give AFEELA a distinct advantage.