GameScent: The AI-powered product which lets you smell your video game

GameScent: The AI-powered product which lets you smell your video game

Ever wished you could smell the roses while questing in Skyrim? Or get a whiff of gunpowder when a firefight breaks out in Call of Duty? Well, wish no more because a new gadget called GameScent wants to put your nose to work while you play video games.

What is GameScent?

GameScent promises to add an extra layer of immersion to video games by allowing players to smell the virtual worlds they are exploring. Developed by a company of the same name, GameScent uses artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time audio cues from games to dispense scents that match the on-screen action.

The website states the product is “the first AI-powered scent release system that releases scents with your gameplay.”

The small device connects to PCs, consoles, and VR headsets via HDMI or a 3.5mm audio jack. Inside are swappable scent cartridges that contain fragrances like gunpowder, smoke, grass, or rain. When GameScent detects certain sounds through the audio feed – like gunshots or screeching tires – it releases a puff of the corresponding odor into the air. This aims to make the gaming experience more vivid by engaging the sense of smell along with sight and sound.

GameScent also includes a “Clean Air” cartridge to neutralize any lingering scents between gaming sessions. Additional cartridges with scents like sports arenas, blood, and fresh-cut grass will be sold separately.

The company claims associating scents with games can strengthen memories and emotional connections to virtual worlds. While previous attempts have been made to introduce smell into movies and games, the affordable consumer device aims to bring the concept into more households.

What scents does GameScent offer?

  • Gunfire
  • Explosion
  • Forest
  • Clean Air
  • Storm
  • Racing Cars
  • Coming soon: Blood
  • Coming soon: Ocean
  • Coming soon: Sport Arena
  • Coming soon: Fresh-cut grass

How much does GameScent cost?

GameScent is now available at major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop for $149.99. The regular price will be $179.99.

Gamers attending the PAX East expo next month in Boston will also be able to demo GameScent at the company’s exhibit booth.

Featured image: GameScent

Sam Shedden

Managing Editor

Sam Shedden is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience in online news.

A seasoned technology writer and content strategist, he has contributed to many UK regional and national publications including The Scotsman, inews.co.uk, nationalworld.com, Edinburgh Evening News, The Daily Record and more.

Sam has written and edited content for audiences whose interests include media, technology, AI, start-ups and innovation. He’s also produced and set-up email newsletters in numerous specialist topics in previous roles and his work on newsletters saw him nominated as Newsletter Hero Of The Year at the UK’s Publisher Newsletter Awards 2023.

He has worked in roles focused on growing reader revenue and loyalty at one of the UK’s leading news publishers, National World plc
growing quality, profitable news sites. He has given industry talks and presentations sharing his experience growing digital audiences to international audiences.

Now a Managing Editor at Readwrite.com, Sam is involved in all aspects of the site’s news operation including commissioning, fact-checking, editing and content planning.

The post “GameScent: The AI-powered product which lets you smell your video game” by Sam Shedden was published on 02/28/2024 by readwrite.com