PS4 launch: Early reports of hardware faults dog the console

Reviewers and competition winners who have received copies of the console early have reported problems with the PS4's HDMI input

Sony Computer Entertainment make the Playstation consoles (AP)

Excitement over the launch of Sony’s PS4 has been marred by early reports of hardware problems with the console.

Gaming websites including Kotaku and IGN have said that the devices they were given to review failed to work properly. Another individual who won an early edition of the console in a competition has also reported receiving a broken console.

Most outlets suggest that the problems seem to focus on the HDMI port, with Kotaku noting that “we couldn't fully plug an HDMI cable into [it]” and IGN saying that “The console would turn on, accompanied by a pulsing blue light (it should glow white) – but it would not output a signal to the television.”

It’s not known how widespread these problems might be, and the faults are most definitely a minority issue. Reviewers have had their faulty consoles replaced by Sony HQ and have reported that these work as they should.

One consumer who received the console early has appeared in a thread on Reddit under the username Arogon1416:

“When I turn on my console it just sits there pulsing blue. As far as I can tell it is supposed to turn white but it isn't doing that. There is no signal on my tv either. I talked to at least 5 tech support people on the phone and 1 on-line. All of them but two outright refused to help me saying that the console is not yet released and they can't help me.”

If these issues do turn out to be widespread then Sony could have a disaster on its hands comparable with Microsoft’s Red Ring of Death. This hardware fault shut down a large number of Xbox 360s and cost the company more than $1 billion to put right.

Sony’s warranty covers the PS4 for twelve months after purchase but with supplies of the console already tight there might be some disappointed gamers over the Christmas period, stuck at home waiting for a replacement device.

The PS4 goes on sale in the US on 15th November and in the UK on 29th November.

Click here to read our head-to-head comparison of the PS4 and Xbox One