Kickstarter Project Introduces $39 AI-Enhanced Add-On for PS5, Promising Up to 9°C Cooler Exhaust Temps

A Kickstarter campaign has emerged with an intriguing promise: a PlayStation 5 cooling unit that claims to fix overheating issues and prevent the rear I/O from melting. As of now, the campaign has raised $89,000 and is aiming for a stretch goal of $125,000. The cooling device is priced starting at $39.

Called the Arctic PS5 cooler, this device is marketed as the first-ever AI-powered cooler for the PS5. It’s a clip-on vent that attaches to the rear exhaust of Sony’s PS5 and comes equipped with either four or six fans to efficiently disperse heat. Drawing power from a single USB port, it offers a pass-through USB feature, so you don’t lose a port on your console.

SCRY, the company behind this Kickstarter, has developed three different versions for the various PS5 models: the original PS5 (referred to as the “fat” model by SCRY), the slimmer PS5 edition, and the recently introduced PS5 Pro. The Pro and Slim versions are nearly identical, each having four fans arranged with three on top and one on the bottom, while the “fat” version boasts six fans.

Throughout the Kickstarter campaign page, it’s emphasized that the coolers are equipped with “smart thermal AI” to automatically adjust fan speeds according to the PS5’s temperature. It’s somewhat unclear how this system significantly differs from traditional PC fan controls, which have been around for ages. However, the system kicks into high gear at 50°C, pushing the fans to full speed to cool the console effectively.

According to SCRY, their cooling unit can lower the console’s temperature by 30% compared to its typical operating temperature, dropping the peak from 64°C to 55°C. Thermal imaging provided on the campaign page shows the temperature at the hottest rear part of the PS5, the ethernet port, reducing by 9 degrees Celsius.

These PS5 coolers aim to curb overheating issues reported with Sony’s latest console. Over the past year, there have been reports of the PS5 overheating during certain games, like Final Fantasy XVI, with some instances severe enough to melt rear connectors.

Additionally, SCRY is using the Kickstarter platform to promote a Gen 4 M.2 SSD with a heatsink.

The campaign is also teasing a few stretch goals. Once they hit $125,000, backers could receive a complimentary “vertikal” universal PS5 stand. There are also stretch goals set at $75,000 and $100,000, though specific details on those will only be revealed once they’re unlocked.