Sony is planning an immersive experience inspired by post-apocalyptic video game and TV series The Last of Us, as revealed at the CES 2025 tech show.
Per a press release, Sony has created a location-based entertainment (LBE) concept based on the award-winning PlayStation and Naughty Dog video game, The Last of Us.
The company said it is exploring ways to “expand the value of content IP by developing a proof-of-concept for location-based entertainment with various technologies such as video, audio, and haptics to provide creators with new avenues for expression”.
This concept is on view at Sony’s CES booth, which is showcasing an immersive experience themed to The Last of Us with high-definition video, 3D sound and olfactory technologies.
Sony’s LBE expansion plans
Neil Druckmann, studio head of Naughty Dog and co-creator of The Last of Us, made the announcement at a CES 2025 press conference.
He said the immersive experience will be set in the infected undergrounds of Seattle, heavily featured in The Last of Us Part II video game.
Druckmann also said Sony aims to be an IP powerhouse with original content. “We’ve been floored at how beloved The Last of Us has become,” he said.
Part of these plans are the new Sony’s Wonderverse entertainment destination in Chicago, which offers immersive experiences based on Sony brands such as Uncharted, Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, and Zombieland.
The Last of Us has already been transformed into an LBE experience by Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando in 2023.
Visitors followed in the footsteps of the game’s protagonists, Joel and Ellie, as they explored a world overtaken by a fungal virus that turns humans into ‘the infected’.
For the haunted house, Universal recreated iconic locations from the game, including the Hotel Grand and a labyrinth of dark and dank tunnels.
Both gaming brands and horror experiences are major trends to watch in the attractions industry in the year ahead.
The Last of Us season 2 arrives on TV screens in April 2025.
