EVO 2023 competitors say PS5 USB ports were ruining controllers from overuse
Combo breaker
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EVO 2023 may have been more costly for some than others, as players are reporting having their controllers damaged by overused PS5 USB ports.
PS5consoles would’ve seen heavy use during EVO 2023, as the headline gameStreet Fighter 6saw upwards of 7,000 players register to compete. And it appears that the event’s consoles may not have been able to withstand the force of thousands of PS5 controllers constantly being plugged in and out over the course of the weekend.
Spotted byVGC, several players are taking to Twitter to report USB port parts lodging in their own controllers' ports. Owners of some of thebest fight sticksareshowing parts ripped from the PS5got stuck in their devices. As you can see below, others suggest the consoles ran so hot that the connectors began melting into their own.
As a result, some players are suggesting EVO switch to PC orXbox Series X|S as the platform of choice for future years. However, givenSonynow owns the event, there’s admittedly little chance of that happening.
This is my melted controller. It just took one set. pic.twitter.com/EiG6OsdjeGAugust 6, 2023
Overheating USB ports isn’t an impossible situation. PS5s have decent ventilation, but they’ll still run hot after a three-day weekend of constant use. The stuffiness of an event featuring tens of thousands of players could potentially play a part as well.
What’s more likely, though, is that the USB ports were simply falling apart from overuse. Many of thebest fighting gamesat EVO 2023 were played on PS5 consoles, includingStreet Fighter 6andGuilty Gear Strive.Factor in that wired play is preferred to minimize input delay, and you’ve got a situation where thousands of players are rotating through a handful of PS5s, with controllers constantly being swapped in and out.
A better solution is needed for future events to prevent such damage from happening. Whether that be a greater quantity of consoles in play, units with reinforced USB ports or better cooling measures, hopefully, EVO’s organizers and Sony are able to figure something out.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
If you’re keen to participate at future fighting game tournaments like EVO,Red Bull Kumiteand CEO, consider checking out ourbest PS5 controllersguide to make sure you’re going to your chosen event with the best hardware possible.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
The PS5 Pro’s PSSR upscaling gives multiple games a huge visual upgrade – can it compete with Nvidia’s DLSS 3 successor?
I’m a Nintendo Switch expert, here are the best early Black Friday deals right now
How to turn off Meta AI
