Sony has posted a troubleshooting guide for PlayStation 4 owners experiencing a continual 'blinking blue light' on their new consoles, which seems to indicate a problem with hardware or video output.

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According to user reports on Amazon, Twitter and YouTube , problems associated with the 'blue light of death' (a throwback to Xbox 360's infamous 'red ring of death') include no video or audio output, or consoles powering off with no prompting. The specific cause of this error is currently unclear, although Sony has acknowledged that the problem could lie -- very broadly -- with TV compatibility, issues with the PS4 power supply, issues with the PS4 hard drive, or issues with other PS4 hardware.If you're experiencing this problem, Sony recommends turning off your PlayStation 4 completely and holding down the power button for at least seven seconds (until the system beeps twice), disconnecting your PS4 AC power cord from the electrical outlet, and checking for visibly damaged parts - this includes the system's HDMI port, which has been the cause of a recent publicized issue . Of course, check all input settings and cables, too.Failing that, Sony recommends contacting PS4 customer support , as the publisher continues to investigate the root of the problem.Reports of various PlayStation 4 issues have been coming in this week post the console's release in North America."There have been several problems reported, which leads us to believe there isn't a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of systems," Sony said in a statement to IGN earlier in the week. "The number of affected systems represents less than .4% of shipped units to date, which is within our expectations for a new product introduction."If you encounter your own issues or can offer solutions, please visit IGN's PS4 problems and troubleshooting page

Lucy O'Brien is Entertainment Editor at IGN AU. Follow her ramblings on IGN or Twitter