A Kickstarter initiative is making waves with its new cooling unit for the PlayStation 5, a promising solution to overheating issues and the occasional risk of the rear I/O getting damaged. At the time of this writing, the campaign has amassed $89,000 towards a target that extends to $125,000. For those interested, the starting price for this cooling device is set at $39.
This intriguing add-on, called the Arctic PS5 Cooler, positions itself as the world’s first AI-driven cooler for the PS5. It’s cleverly designed as a clip-on vent that attaches to the back of Sony’s console, armed with either four or six fans to actively reduce heat. Powered by a single USB port, it includes a pass-through port, so you won’t lose any connectivity options on your console.
The team behind this innovation, SCRY, is offering three distinct versions tailored to each PS5 model: the original (or “fat” as SCRY calls it), the PS5 Slim, and the newly released PS5 Pro. The Pro and Slim versions each feature four fans—three on top and one below—while the “fat” model packs in six fans for extra cooling.
Their Kickstarter campaign emphasizes a “smart thermal AI” feature in all three models that automatically adjusts fan speeds according to the console’s internal temperature. While the specifics of how this diverges from traditional PC fan technology aren’t clear, the idea is that the fans hit maximum speed at 50°C, aiming to keep the system as cool as possible.
SCRY claims their cooling unit can lower console temperatures by about 30% versus the standard setup, dropping maximum temps from 64°C to 55°C. Thermal images on their site showcase a 9-degree Celsius decrease at the PS5’s rear hotspot, near the ethernet port.
The primary goal of these coolers is to tackle overheating, a concern that has hounded Sony’s latest console. Reports have surfaced about overheating issues with titles like Final Fantasy XVI, and in rare cases, the heat has been severe enough to melt some rear connectors.
Beyond these coolers, SCRY is also promoting a Gen 4 M.2 SSD with a heatsink in its Kickstarter campaign.
The campaign’s main page hints at a stretch goal of $125,000, which would unlock a free “vertikal” universal PS5 stand. There are additional stretch goals for $75,000 and $100,000, which are expected to be revealed once achieved.
