Custom PlayStation 5 faceplate designer dbrand announced a brand-new plate that could help the high-powered console run cooler during long gaming sessions - and hopefully keep from receiving another cease-and-desist order. While the striking white-and-black design of the standard PS5 is enough for most players, some have gone out of their way to create their own custom faceplates to spice up Sony’s cutting-edge console, ranging from a more traditional black décor to looks themed after PlayStation exclusive titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and God Of War (2018).
However, Sony itself appears less-than-thrilled at the idea of third-party companies selling unofficial custom PS5 faceplates, and Sony has taken legal action against them over the past couple of years. While some companies behind said faceplates have complied with Sony's cease-and-desist orders, others have openly challenged Sony to sue them as they continued their plans to release custom PS5 plates well-into 2021. Others still point out that their products differ enough from the official PS5 faceplates that Sony’s claims of copyright infringement might not necessarily apply - as was the case when the company formerly known as PlateStation5 resumed sales of its custom black PS5 faceplates under the new name of CMP Shells earlier this year.
Dbrand was one of the few companies to openly challenge Sony’s claims of copyright violation regarding custom PlayStation 5 faceplates, and has returned to announce its brand-new Darkplates 2.0 design. This new PS5 faceplate comes in a matte black finish and includes a handful of extra features that the standard PS5 plates don't, such as LED light strips running down the inner sides and added air vents that Dbrand claims will help the console run cooler. On dbrand's official Reddit page, the Canadian company explained that this brand-new design was made in part to side-step Sony's patent on PS5 faceplates and allow Dbrand to continue selling Darkplates 2.0 without any further legal trouble.
Despite the PS5’s well-documented cutting-edge cooling system, concerns about the console overheating and possibly being damaged beyond repair are a constant issue for owners. This concern was sparked when footage of a PS5 display model bursting into flames at Best Buy went viral just a few days before the console launched last November. Just recently, tech experts claimed that a new, slimmer PS5 model that is appearing in Japanese and Australian markets could overheat faster due to a scaled-back heat sink, but this was later debunked with reports that it actually runs cooler than the original PS5.
As such, the extra ventilation in Dbrand’s custom PlayStation 5 Darkplates 2.0 could be quite the comfort for PS5 owners, and the altered design might give the company enough leeway to avoid continued legal action from Sony in the future. There have been plenty of custom PS5 faceplates over the past couple of years, but Dbrand’s latest offering takes the accessory to another level by adding additional functionality to the cutting-edge (but ever-elusive) PlayStation 5.
Source: Dbrand, dbrand/Reddit