Players at EVO 2023, especially those competing in the headline game Street Fighter 6, reported issues with damaged controllers and PS5 USB ports. This damage is believed to have been caused by the extensive use of PS5 controllers and the consoles themselves during the event.
Some players reported parts of the PS5 USB ports getting lodged in their controller ports, while others claimed that the connectors melted due to the heat generated during the event. This has raised concerns about the durability of PS5 USB ports, especially in environments with heavy usage like gaming tournaments.
As a result, some players have suggested that EVO consider switching to PC or Xbox Series X|S as the platform of choice for future events to avoid such issues. However, since Sony now owns the EVO event, this seems unlikely.
The overheating and wear and tear on USB ports can be attributed to the extensive use of PS5 consoles during the event, particularly for games like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear Strive, where wired play is preferred for minimal input delay. Thousands of players rotated through a limited number of PS5 consoles, constantly plugging and unplugging controllers.
To prevent such damage in future events, organizers may need to consider solutions such as using a larger quantity of consoles, reinforcing USB ports, or implementing better cooling measures. Finding a way to address these issues will be important for ensuring a smooth and reliable gaming experience at competitive events like EVO.
