The cooling system on Sony’s current-generation console could cause problems with prolonged use, which doesn’t bode well for the future.

In the latest episode of the Broken Silicon podcast, Matthew Cassells, founder of Alderon Games, warned of a critical flaw in the PlayStation 5: the liquid metal used for cooling can drip to the bottom of the console when it’s used in a vertical position. This creates dry spots on the APU, compromising its operation and potentially causing unexpected shutdowns. The issue appears to be spreading among users.

Recently, reports emerged that after the latest update of Path of Titans, some PS5 units were suddenly shutting down. The developers first offered basic troubleshooting advice like cleaning the console, but the problem persisted. After discussing the issue on Discord, more users reported the same problem. Alderon Games then asked players to notify them if their PS5 shut down during any game—and the number of reports increased. Even some of the team members experienced similar issues.

All signs point to the liquid metal, particularly when the console is standing vertically. The more demanding the game, the higher the chance of failure. With the most recent Path of Titans update, affected users rose to 2–3%—a small but concerning number. Cassells noted it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause since there’s no way to monitor CPU/GPU temperatures with software, and patching the game to reduce stress might affect functioning consoles unnecessarily.

Fortunately, not all PS5 units are affected. Sony has tried to solve the issue in the slim and PlayStation 5 Pro models by adding heatsink fins to keep the liquid metal in place. It’s too early to judge the effectiveness, but older models are more vulnerable. Most are out of warranty, making repairs expensive.

Cassells proposed a free repair program to Sony, but it’s unclear whether that would be feasible given the number of affected systems. While it’s not as catastrophic as the infamous Red Ring of Death on Xbox 360, Cassells believes many PS5s could fail in the next few years.

Source: WCCFTech