We reached out to Sony today to find out more about the reports of defective PlayStation 4 units. As we mentioned last week, Sony estimates hardware failures at 0.4 percent.

“There have been several issues reported, which leads us to believe there isn’t a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of PS4 units,” a Sony representative tells Game Informer. “We also understand that some units were reportedly damaged during shipping. The number of affected PS4 systems is less than 1%, which represents a very small percentage of total units shipped to date and is within the expected range for a new product introduction. We understand the frustration of consumers that have had a problem and are working with them and our retail partners to help troubleshoot issues and ensure affected units are exchanged”

We inquired about repair and replacement times for those consumers that choose to approach Sony directly rather than attempt a fix through a retailer. The representative gave us some good news. “SCEA is exchanging units with new replacements for those who call our support line,” he says. “The exchanges are immediate with expedited shipping.”

Our Take

Defective units are a fact of any mass market electronics launch, and having it fixed quickly is the second-best thing to not needing repair or replacement at all. If your retailer can’t help you with an immediate exchange, call Sony support and you should be up and running quickly.