How Serious Are The PS4's Blue Light of Death and Broken Hardware Reports?

Just a few days after launch, the PlayStation had already earned a dubious honor: a nickname for its potentially fatal flaw. What some users are calling the Blue Light of Death, mimicking the infamous Red Ring of Death that plagued the launch of the Xbox 360 for years, has forced hundreds of PlayStation 4 owners to send their systems back to Sony and vent their frustrations in online reviews and forums. But just how widespread is the issue?

While it's impossible to accurately gauge how far the claims of broken systems extend, prior to launch Sony shared that their expected failure rate for the console was 0.4%. To put that in perspective, that's about 1 in 250. With over one million PlayStation 4 systems sold, that comes to about 4,000 potentially broken systems. While that's a small number compared to the 996,000 that do work, that's little consolation if you're one of the 4,000 affected waiting to mail a $400 paperweight back to Sony.

[moegooner88]

" The representative was incredibly courteous, and knowledgeable." Glad to know that, good customer service is crucial when launching a new console.

[LackTrue4K]

i had my freeze 3 times downloading WARFRAME, but as another N4G user told me. "it could be cuz your trying to play the game, and has yet to install"

after the game was fully installed, i have not had any issues. "running @ 100% now"

[Angels3785]

It could be because of wifi or psn network stability. Possibly trying to play ad you download (its a vast game) but seeing as ps4 had way more consoles than expected day 1 and network issues always happen to big games. I can see why its had trouble.

[thehitman]

Ya there will always be glitches playing a game that hasn't fully installed yet. Personally I would just wait to avoid corruption.

[ABeastNamedTariq]

Same for me. I got scared for a minute lol.

[angelsx]

Just look amazon http://static.gamespot.com/...

[Sharky231]

Have you seen how they packaged and shipped the ps4 at amazon? No wonder 400 people are pissed. There ps4 got thrown in a box with a piece of bubble wrapped dropped on top. Then it got tossed in a truck!

[black0o]

i'm gonna leave this here: http://www.amazon.ca/produc...

it looks like some ppl are camping on amazon.us

[yarbie1000]

I'm working on a story. I just went through and counted only the 1 star rating comments.

There are 550 Comments currently that are 1 star.

Of those, 373 are from VERIFIED Customers. Meaning, Amazon claims they purchased the device from Amazon.

Certainly a lot of the others could be trolls, but a reasonable person knows that not all of them are. And if you compare the ratings to other devices - like the Kindle which has thousands of ratings, then you can see what an avg electronic failure rate usually is.

[AceBlazer13]

How many of them state differently than the one star reviews, would be nice to see the ratio. Seems like a lot of work but if your already doing work on it.

[despair]

@yarbie1000

I hope you are joking, you are just making wild assumptions and baseless comparisons based on such limited and unverfied data that it just seems laughable.

Amazon has probably shipped the biggest percentage of the 1 million ps4s, they said at one point it was 2500 preorders per minute and it was bigger than the entirety of last year's black Friday sale just in next gen preorders (both systems). Now given that they probably sold at least a couple hundred thousand systems 500-600 negative reviews are not exactly indicative of anything.

I do not doubt that there are bad systems and Sony probably could've done better in both the quality control and handling in the last couple days, but to think there is some kind of correlation to negative reviews on Amazon and how many systems are doa is ridiculous.

[Abriael]

How much I wish people wouldn't use the pictures I make for my articles to submit this stuff...

[jcnba28]

I found the image on google...

[Enemy]

1 in 250, or 4,000 in 996,000. Aren't you answering your own question?

[yarbie1000]

"This is also the first console-launch since the wide spread of social media, where users can quickly and easily share their opinions with a world-wide audience ready to listen."

Yes, because social media wasn't around during the launch of the Wii U. Welcome to 2013, a new dawn.

[MEGANE]

Wiiu... Whos buying it?, and who cares!, this is next gen topic

[chrissx]

This is just being blown out of proportion that's all. To make news and get hits

[Xavy]

Yes it is =)

[leejohnson222]

Most errors are caused by users, when the system is trying to update firmware users are turning the consoles off, it's just being over hyped , a small percentage will be me fanboys

[TKCMuzzer]

There are more articles reporting the same news than people reporting failed consoles.
Can we give it a rest and see what happens over the next week. The same info over and over is getting boring.

[leejohnson222]

Totally agree, people love negativity, it's just sensationalism

[jackanderson1985]

While the percentage isn't a great number the overall financial affect to Sony could be worrying. While yes they had planned for a number of failures (as to be expected with new electronic hardware) the facts are that Sony as an entity is performing quite badly and while they most like have the cash on hand to absorb the losses it will damage them in the short fun. 4000 consoles equate to more than 2mil loss as Sony have said they're selling the ps4 at a loss

[TKCMuzzer]

I don't think they just throw the faulty consoles away and ditch all the working parts. They won't lose 2mill from those consoles.

[jackanderson1985]

I know they don't just trash them but they have to classify them as refurbished products and they'll take an additional loss on them while having to replace a good majority of the consoles that did fail as a refurb would take a while and lead to further bad press and any bad PR however small would hurt massively at a launch

[jmc8888]

Their stock fluctuates more than $2 million daily. Way more.

[jackanderson1985]

Big difference between paper losses and actual cash losses. Anyone can survive a paper loss but losing a large chunk of cash on a console already selling at a loss could be an extremely bad thing for the business as a whole

[Yo Mama]

While I do think some PS4's exist that do not work, I believe most of it is being perpetuated by a lot of sour Microsoft fanboys. I can't wait for the Xbone to launch so I can "review" mine.

[yarbie1000]

I'm sure 30-40 pages worth of xbot trolls spent $400 so they could write a verified review saying their console was DOA. Dat logic

[brettski]

I refuse to buy an Xbox one and I'm here to say my ps4 is sitting in a box waiting to get sent back to amazon for a refund. I'm now searching for a new console and tempted to wait until new manufacturing runs make it over and maybe a new firmware update

[dennett316]

There were 200+ reviews on Amazon, with about 40-50 unverified owners. It's also possible that some of the "verified purchasers" ordered and then cancelled quickly in order to show up as a purchaser.
A lot of the reviews aren't just normal angry complaints, the fanboy nonsense is easily detectable. It's not most reports like Yo Mama says, but there is an element of fanboyism in some of the negative reviews.
Hell, one of them gave it one star because his "friend" got a faulty PS4, but the reviewer hadn't even tried his own console yet. That's just idiotic.

[Mikeyy]

Brett did you try safe mode? Did you even attempt to research the numourous fixes for the supposed problems everybody is having?

Theres a 50% chance its fixable.

[Pascalini]

Ps4 has been the worst launch of a console to date

They pushed too hard- I wouldn't touch a ps4 for a couple of years

There's going to be a lot of angry kids this Xmas

[TKCMuzzer]

I suppose the only good thing about your comment is that it explains why you have one bubble.

If you could provide actual figures to back your comment up I and many others would be grateful.

[Morpheuzpr]

that and the pic on his profile fit's him like a glove.

[dennett316]

Utterly absurd, and you clearly haven't a clue what you're talking about regarding the failure rates of electrical appliances. Your one bubble is more than deserved.

[Sevir]

The worst console launch went to MS with it's Xbox 360 and it's 33% failure rate... Please stop pretending that didn't exist, or happen. This is the most successful console launch ever followed by the GBA, 1 million units sold day one, and plenty of software.

XBO launches in A week, I can't wait to see your reactions when MS has the same issues at launch

[drsfinest72]

I agree with pascalini

[jmc8888]

ROFL.

My 360 with 2 RRoD's, disc scratch problem, failed hard drive, and a 2nd failed disc drive says hi!!!

Wake me when 250,000-500,000 of this 1st million fails, then it will be close to equaling the 360.

[leejohnson222]

It's people like you who are making all this much worse, 4 weeks before ps4 was out there were hundreds of negative amazon reviews all 1 stars etc, how can this be when they didn't even play the console, I think amazon uk removed them in the end but it shows that xbots will go to any measures to push their bias negativity, if you prefer xbox just enjoy that, I don't comment on stories regarding consoles I don't own or intend to own, no point

[Commodore_]

I haven't had a single problem with mine. Working perfectly.

[TKCMuzzer]

It seems you have a disagree, meaning somebody knows something about your PS4 you don't. Good old N4G.

[dennett316]

The industry "standard" for this sort of mass product launch is a 3% failure rate.
So far, the PS4 is well within that limit. That doesn't change the fact that it sucks for those affected, and I'd hope that everyone affected is at least dealt with properly by customer services. The fuss being kicked up on some sites, and by many of the reviewers on Amazon who are not verified purchasers, is more than a little sad. Scaremongering is pretty pathetic. I expect the same sort of nonsense (maybe even worse) when the inevitable faulty Xbox One units materialise.

[yarbie1000]

NO ONE knows what the failure rate. ONLY Sony knows. And who knows how many months they will allow to go by before they release that data.

Most people DO NOT run to go write reviews or post videos. People seem to think the only people who buy consoles are hardcore gamers. Most people handle it offline. Take it back to the store - handle it over the phone.

This COULD be a major issue. Anyone who watches Amazon reviews can tell you its not normal for any tech device to have that many verified buyer DOA devices. We've went through the Kindle, Laptops, Tablets, Iphones, Wii U - it isn't like this is the first expensive tech device in history to launch. That is why even the IGN PS4 guy tweeted the other day that this was worrisome.

I'm not suggesting it should be a top story, and it may indeed be being blown way out of proportion, but it is something that people need to be aware of. Especially anyone buying one to put under the tree - at least, this way people can test it before wrapping it up and have peace of mind. MOST ARE WORKING. That is the good news - but to ignore this is foolish. These people have a story that deserves to be told. They paid $400 - pre-ordered. Maybe took off of work or took a vacation. And it sucks for them. Then they had to wait on the phone for 2 hrs and it will be next week before they get their consoles.

News is NEWS. Good or bad. It's just information and people shouldn't take it so personally.

[PS3gamer4life]

Mines work fine

[Realplaya]

So everyone think that this is being blown out of proportion what if it's actually under reported? Not everyone is going online to complain.

Also all those who jumped up laughed and commented about the WiiU bricking are the same ones defending Sony like they work for the company.

Enjoy your system and appreciate the games that you bought because what we know now is what's reported if the system fails it fails hell we don't necessarily know the actual numbers. We only know what has been told to us by Sony.

[feraldrgn]

Not as serious as people are thinking,
the people who have working consoles are busy playing their consoles & won't be posting news that their console actually works.

The people who have faulty consoles are being more vocal, since they're irritated & aren't on their console, so the only thing to do would be to go to the internet to speak about it.

[ruefrak]

So when people actually need to talk to customer support, this guy ties up the line and take a reps time just to see what the experience is like?
Not cool.

[The_Villager]

Very serious.

[PS3n360]

what i find concerning is that all the failures are the same or at least a large majority of them. This to me seems like a problem that could plague the console until they figure out what is causing it and replacing that particular piece of hardware wether it be the hdmi port or something else. Regardless of the problem it appears Sony is replacing or repairing no questions asked. This is only a problem if they decided to say too bad so sad. It took all my strength to not preorder either console. I will wait until it has all played out. Its killing me though I want a ps4 so bad right now.

[Lowsnamebrand]

then get one, just dont get one from amazon, after seeing pics of how amazon had them packaged, its no wonder why there's alot of 1 start reviews. i mean hell i read like 50 the other day and atleast 9-12 of the 1 start reviews said i cant believe amazon shipped it like this.

[bunfighterii]

I work for a major online retailer - FYI for everyone here, we budget a 4-5% DOA/failure rate into all consumer electronics, and we sell a lot, including consoles.

That accounts for manufacturing defects and shipping issues. Most DOA failures occur due to shipping and handling. Between the warehouse and the customer, many people handle your package, and it's last few km's come to you in the back of a van driven by a low paid and frustrated courier. Boxes get bashed around a lot,

Manufacturing defects are also present, it's and inevitability with mass scale production. We hear about it more because we have more vocal online communities than we used to.

[phoenix_dusk]

As serious as those xbone fanbois want it to be. But 1 million sold hoping hardware damages around 500K? LMAO.

[NarcolepZZZZZZ]

Wait I thought we were going with pulsing blue dick-punch of sadness... blue line of death is boring.

[unicron7]

.04% failure rate...about the same as any device being released nowadays...I think I'll manage. People are trying desperately to hate on this thing...key word: TRY.

[leejohnson222]

Fanboys are very dedicated but why not put that energy In to loving their own console, and talking up their own console but all they do is jump on meta critic to rate down exclusive games, write false reviews and start flame wars on forums with fake accounts and endless abides, lots of sad people in the world and keyboard killers