Gamescom 2025: Scentbar Demo Brings Smell to PC Gaming

At Gamescom, the Scentbar demo showed how AI detects on-screen action and releases matching scents from up to 10 cartridges. It works, but you probably don't need it.

Ever wondered what a burning Roman soldier smells like? Thanks to the Scentbar, I now know—and it's just fire, not flesh. At Gamescom, I checked out this device that promises to add smell to your games. Spoiler: it's ridiculous, but it actually works.

The Scentbar is a small soundbar-like gadget that sits on your desk. It holds up to 10 cartridges, each filled with scent pellets. Software uses AI to detect what's happening on your screen and releases a matching smell. In my demo, it was loaded with Forest, Grass, Pineapple, Flowers, Bakery, Sea, Farm, Garage, Smoke, and Gunpowder.

My demo started in a bakery game—first-person croissant arranging. The Scentbar quickly pumped out a bakery smell. Then, when Scentbar boss Salomo Bertram threw bombs in another game, it emitted gunpowder. In a car mechanic sim, it was garage. I don't know how they made a pellet that smells exactly like 'garage,' but they did.

You can adjust how sensitive the AI is. Want gunpowder at the merest hint of a weapon? Go ahead. Or set it to require a notarized form before it even thinks about gunplay. Bertram says you can 'set it up to your preferences and individualize your experience,' but you can't add your own smells yet due to 'safety issues.' No fish or faeces pellets at the show, sadly.

I did get to smell Minecraft's blocky forestry—grass and fir trees as we flew around in creative mode. In Lost Legion, standing in a brazier gave me the smell of fire. 'Burning flesh' wasn't loaded, and probably never should be.

So, do you need a machine that lets you smell your games? Absolutely not. If a loved one asked, I'd tell them to fill whatever spiritual void led to that question. But I can't help being impressed. It's a patently ridiculous idea that functions quite well. If you have a free half-hour at a huge convention, check it out.

What do you think? Would you ever want to smell your games, or is this a step too far?