On December 18, 2025, Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (SHM) announced a groundbreaking feature for its AFEELA electric vehicle brand: the world's first integration of PlayStation Remote Play as an in-car entertainment system.

This innovative feature allows users to stream games from their PlayStation 5 (PS5) or PlayStation 4 (PS4) consoles at home directly to the vehicle's display screens. It was pitched as a concrete expression of SHM's vision of "transforming travel space into an emotional space."

Update, July 2026: On March 25, 2026, Sony Honda Mobility cancelled development and release of both the AFEELA 1 and its planned second model. Honda's revision of its four-wheel electrification strategy, announced on March 12, left SHM unable to use the Honda technology and assets its business plan had assumed. Reservation deposits taken in California were refunded in full, and on April 21 the two parent companies announced that SHM's operations would be scaled back for the time being. SHM said it had concluded that, within the existing framework, there was no way to bring products or services matching its founding purpose to market in the short to medium term. Its roughly 400 employees are being redeployed to Sony and Honda, in principle all of them, subject to their own preferences. The company continues to exist as a legal entity, but nobody will be left working on the business. The three parties say they will keep discussing possible software collaboration for the era when advanced driver assistance becomes the norm. What follows reflects the December 2025 announcement.

What is PS Remote Play?

PS Remote Play is an application provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that enables gamers to enjoy their PlayStation games away from their home console. While this technology has been available on smartphones, tablets, and PCs, the AFEELA marks the first official integration into a production vehicle.

Key features include:

  • Connect to your home PS5/PS4 via internet connection
  • Play games on the car's high-resolution displays
  • Use your DualSense controller seamlessly
  • Experience premium audio through the vehicle's sound system

Use Cases in AFEELA

SHM envisions several practical scenarios for this feature:

Parked Waiting Time

Turn idle time into gaming time when waiting to pick someone up or while your EV charges at a station.

Long-Distance Travel Entertainment

Passengers can enjoy gaming during road trips. For safety, the system is designed for passenger use only while the vehicle is in motion.

Connection Requirements

To enjoy Remote Play in your AFEELA, you'll need:

Requirement Specification
Minimum Speed 5 Mbps or higher
Recommended Speed 15 Mbps or higher
Required Equipment PS5 or PS4 console (installed at home, powered on)
Connection Type Mobile data or Wi-Fi

The AFEELA 1 comes equipped with 5G connectivity as standard, enabling Remote Play over mobile networks. However, the feature may be unavailable in areas with poor network coverage.

AFEELA 1 Overview

The AFEELA 1, featuring PS Remote Play, is SHM's first mass-production vehicle. Officially unveiled at CES 2025 in January, here are the key specifications:

Technical Specifications

Specification Details
Length Approximately 4,900mm (193 inches)
Width Approximately 1,900mm (75 inches)
Height Approximately 1,650mm (65 inches)
Battery Capacity 91 kWh
Motor Output 180 kW Γ— 2 (approximately 480 hp combined)
Range Approximately 300 miles (483 km) EPA estimated
Sensors 40 total (18 cameras, 1 LiDAR, 9 radar, 12 sonar)

Trim Levels and Pricing

Trim Price (USD)
AFEELA 1 Origin $89,900
AFEELA 1 Signature $102,900

Pricing includes 3-year complimentary subscriptions for AFEELA Intelligent Drive (advanced driver assistance), AFEELA Personal Agent (conversational AI), entertainment services, and 5G data connectivity.

Delivery Timeline

  • United States: Reservations opened in 2025; deliveries slipped from mid-2026 to late 2026 before the model was cancelled in March 2026
  • Japan: A launch had been planned for early 2027, also cancelled

Comprehensive Entertainment Features

Beyond PS Remote Play, the AFEELA 1 offers a suite of entertainment capabilities:

  • Streaming services: Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible
  • Social and communication apps: TikTok, Zoom
  • Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Technologies
  • Dolby Atmos support
  • Proprietary noise-canceling technology

Comparison with Competitors

Tesla has been a pioneer in in-car gaming, with its Model S and Model X previously offering Steam support, though this feature was later removed.

AFEELA takes a different approach: rather than running games on vehicle hardware, it streams from your home console. This method reduces in-vehicle hardware costs while delivering the full PS5 gaming experience.

Sony Honda Mobility's Vision

Izumi Kawanishi, Representative Director, President and COO of Sony Honda Mobility Inc., commented on the announcement:

"The introduction of PS Remote Play embodies AFEELA's vision for mobility: transforming the traveling space into a captivating and emotional one. Through this integration, we are elevating the customer's entire travel experience to an unprecedented level of entertainment."

Considerations and Challenges

As announced, the feature came with several caveats.

Network Dependency

Remote Play relies entirely on internet connectivity, which may be unreliable in certain areas. Rural regions and mountainous terrain may present challenges.

Home Console Requirement

This is streaming, not cloud gaming. Your PS5 or PS4 must be powered on at home for the feature to work, requiring some advance planning.

Data Consumption

High-quality streaming can consume significant data. Users should be mindful of their 5G data plan limits.

The Idea Outlives the Car

The car is gone, but the premise, that a parked or cruising vehicle is an unused screen, has not gone anywhere. What do you think about in-car gaming in your country? As autonomous driving technology advances, how do you envision spending time during travel? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

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