Kickstarter Campaign Introduces $39 AI-Enhanced PlayStation 5 Add-On for Up to 9°C Cooler Exhaust Temperatures

A new Kickstarter campaign is generating buzz with its revolutionary PlayStation 5 cooling unit claiming to solve overheating issues and even prevent the rear I/O ports from melting. At the time of writing, the campaign had amassed $89,000 in funding, aiming for a stretch goal of $125,000. The entry price for this cooling gadget is set at $39.

This innovation, called the Arctic PS5 Cooler, is marketed as the first-ever AI-powered cooler for Sony’s PS5. It conveniently clips onto the console’s exhaust at the back, equipped with either four or six fans designed to efficiently manage heat. The cooler is powered by a single USB port and also provides a pass-through USB port, ensuring you don’t lose any connectivity options on your console.

On display in their campaign, SCRY, the brains behind this Kickstarter, is presenting three distinct models, each tailored for different PlayStation 5 versions: the original, known as the “fat” model, the slim version, and the newly launched PS5 Pro. The Pro and Slim models utilize four fans, distributed with three on top and one at the bottom, whereas the “fat” model boasts six fans.

Repeatedly highlighted on their Kickstarter page, these coolers are powered by “smart thermal AI,” which modulates fan speeds according to the PS5’s internal temperature. While the concept is intriguing, it’s not entirely new territory as PC fans have had similar functionalities for decades. The system is set to boost fan speed when temperatures hit 50C to ensure the console stays as cool as possible.

According to SCRY, this cooler can reduce the PS5’s operational temperature by 30%. Where the console might typically run at a max of 64C, their cooler aims to bring it down to 55C. Thermal images they shared reveal a 9-degree Celsius drop in temperature at the hottest part of the PS5—the rear ethernet port.

The primary mission of these coolers is to avert overheating problems that have plagued Sony’s latest gaming console. Within the last year, there have been reports highlighting such issues in various games like Final Fantasy XVI. In some exceptional cases, it’s been noted that the PS5 can overheat to such an extent that it can actually melt some of the rear connectors.

Besides the cooling units, SCRY is also promoting a Gen 4 M.2 SSD with an integrated heatsink as part of their Kickstarter offerings.

Moreover, the campaign’s stretch goal is pegged at $125,000, which, if achieved, will see the introduction of a complimentary “vertikal” universal PS5 stand. Although stretch goals for $75,000 and $100,000 are also mentioned, details about them will only be revealed once those targets are unlocked.