The launch of a series of custom black PlayStation 5 “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/playstation/ps5/ “> PlayStation 5 consoles ended in disaster this weekend as third party SUP3R5 canceled all orders due to alleged threats made by its staff after being sold out of units.
About 300 of the long-awaited consoles, which have a custom design based on the PlayStation 2, were offered for sale to North American customers on Friday, with a price of $ 649 – $ 200 more than the regular PlayStation “href =” https : // www. videogameschronicle.com/platforms/playstation/”>PlayStation 5 RRP.
Given the ongoing demand for Sony Interactive Entertainment “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/sony/ “> Sony’s console, the black PS5s sold out in less than 20 minutes – and probably would did much faster it was not for major technical issues on SUP3R5’s website as it struggled to meet the demand.
The company a statement issued Friday night said it was ’embarrassed’ about how the North American launch went, and some customers reported being charged for their orders without actually receiving a confirmation that they had secured a console.
A large number of black PS5 consoles are also available started appearing on merchant sites like eBay, with users asking for thousands of dollars, though SUP3R5 said it would cancel them out.
SUP3R5 insisted it would repay those who were wrongly charged and promised with the international launch delaying it from Saturday to later in the month.
However, the company announced just hours after the message that it was canceling all orders and issuing refunds because its team apparently received “credible threats to their security”.
“Last night, our team began receiving credible threats to their security,” the firm said in a statement. “We take these threats seriously. We are not prepared to jeopardize the safety and well-being of our team, or the potential impact it may have on the delivery of your order. ”
It added: ‘All existing orders will be canceled in the coming days and refunded in full. You will be notified when this happens.
‘We intended it to be a fun way to celebrate a shared nostalgia. As it turns out, there are people out there who are willing to interfere with that. If we determine that it is safe to try again, we will do so. Please stay safe for now. ”
The news is predictably frustrated by those who managed to acquire a console, and many customers accuse SUP3R5 of scam tactics (however, there is no evidence of foul play).
Currently, Sony has not committed to releasing PS5 consoles or customization options of different colors, although some other third-party companies have promised their own solutions.
Canadian edge industry Dbrand recently announced that it will soon be taking orders for a range of black PS5 faceplates and has rejected proposals that Sony could stop.
Dbrand’s product launch follows a sensational case in the UK in which one company cancels its plans to create custom PS5 faceplates after Sony allegedly threatened legal action.
Asked by a Reddit user if he was afraid of similar legal action over his front pages, Dbrand rejected the idea and wrote: “We encourage them to give it a try.” A caption on his Reddit message also reads: “sue us, Sony.”