I experienced the first interactive exhibit of The Last of Us at CES: despite dying, I loved it.

In the context of CES 2025, numerous innovative experiences are being showcased, and one of the most notable so far is an interactive exhibition of The Last of Us. This attraction immerses participants in the game's universe, offering a more engaging and radically different way to experience the narrative, especially after the creators chose not to limit themselves to merely sharing the release date of the second season of the series.

In this event, four players were divided into two groups. In my experience, one of the players carried a virtual weapon in the form of a 3D-printed plastic tube, equipped with motion capture points, while the partner had a prototype-quality flashlight to illuminate the dark areas where infected might appear. Before we started, an actor portraying a member of the Fireflies welcomed us, explaining that our mission was to explore old subway tunnels to find some of their comrades in Seattle. However, he mentioned that a previously sent Firefly had not returned, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty.

The experience took place in a 270-degree panoramic environment with real barricades and projections of the environmentally recreated subway tunnels. After a brief encounter with a virtual Clicker, which approached dangerously, a great commotion was triggered by characters like Ellie and another (possibly Dina), when a suspended train collapsed noisily. This attracted the attention of a stream of infected that began to appear, forcing us to try to defend ourselves in pairs, but after a couple of minutes, an endless army overwhelmed us, bringing the demonstration to an end.

Despite being a brief experience and still in development, with some details to be refined, it was incredible. The blend of real and virtual elements created an interactive narrative that made players feel as if they were truly inside the video game. One of the most impressive aspects was the haptic system in the floor, which made the ground vibrate at key moments, such as during the train collapse, enhancing immersion beyond the projections and surround sound.

This type of exhibition is available for other attendees at CES who are in Las Vegas. However, for those who cannot attend, there remains uncertainty about whether this experience will be launched in the future as a broader interactive exhibition. Although the Sony team kept a low profile regarding the details, it was apparent that this demonstration is just the first step towards a more comprehensive experience. The staff requested feedback from participants to know what worked and what could be improved, suggesting future plans for an interactive experience of The Last of Us.