Sony may start selling custom PS5 faceplates after securing a new patent

Date:
Tue, 23 Nov 2021 10:42:57 +0000

Description:
Sony has secured a new patent for its PS5 faceplates, which suggests it could start selling its own custom designs in the future.

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Sony has been granted a new patent for its PS5 faceplates, which suggests we could see official custom PlayStation 5 faceplates being sold in the future.

The United States Trademark Office granted the patent which is titled 'Cover For Electronic Device' on November 16. While the patent name might be a bit vague, the 11 sketches included show what is undoubtedly the PS5s faceplates in all their curvy glory.

The patent doesnt include any information regarding specific colors, but we wouldnt be surprised to see Sony offer its own black PS5 faceplates, as those have proven the most popular with consumers who arent fans of the stock matte white plates.

After shutting down custom PS5 faceplate designers in the past, it appears that Sony has now safeguarded its intellectual property. Third-party sellers began selling PS5 faceplates, which can be removed and reattached to the console, to offer alternatives to Sonys white and black two-tone color
scheme.

Tech branding company Dbrand even went as far as to challenge Sony to sue it when it released its ' darkplates '. The company apparently felt that its matte black faceplates were sufficiently unique to stop Sony from taking
legal action, but it turned out that wasnt the case, as Sony served Dbrand with a cease-and-desist order, with which the company complied.

However, that hasnt stopped Dbrand from offering a new take on its
darkplates, one that supposedly improves upon Sonys original PS5 faceplate design. Dubbed ' Darkplates 2.0 ', the new design features a prominent fan cutout and a more svelte design. Darkplates are back. Checkmate, Lawyers. https://t.co/abbljR7isp pic.twitter.com/8ArvWRt0ZS October 19, 2021 See more

Dbrand also offers various skins that can be placed over the glossy portion
of the PS5, which is handy, as the plastic can scratch over time if you're using the front USB ports. Analysis: Sony could struggle to sell PS5 custom consoles GG, @dbrand pic.twitter.com/MiT7GpaLxv April 20, 2021 See more

Sony faces an unexpected challenge when it comes to selling limited-edition consoles in the future due to the removable nature of the PS5 faceplates. Unlike the Xbox Series X, which has fixed hardware, users probably wont be willing to pay for a limited-edition PS5 if over 95% of the custom design is found on the faceplates.

Instead, Sonys best bet is to release custom PS5 faceplates in various
colors, or ones that are dedicated to particular titles and marquee releases. It could prove more lucrative than producing custom consoles to sell, and
itll certainly be interesting to see how Sony approaches this conundrum.

Of course, the only reason why the PS5 faceplates can be removed is so that users can access the internal SSD bay and add more storage. Microsoft's storage solution, meanwhile, involves using a memory card-style SSD which slots into a proprietary port at the back of the console.

If you're interested in upgrading your PS5's storage, don't miss the best PS5 SSD Black Friday deals this November. Best PS5 Black Friday deals : don't
miss out



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/sony-may-start-selling-custom-ps5-faceplates-af ter-securing-a-new-patent/


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