PlayStation just did something awesome for its players that Xbox should DEFINITELY follow
Cheat accessories like Cronus seem to be getting blocked on PlayStation. It’s time for Xbox to do the same.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
PlayStation gamers have a huge reason to celebrate today — at least those who like to actually play games fairly.
As noticed by the fine folks atCharlieINTEL, a new PlayStation update deployed yesterday has blocked Cronus accessories entirely from accessing the system.
Cronus accessories and similar products like XIM allow users to connect up a standard USB keyboard and mouse, which the accessory then spoofs into mimicking the functions of a standard PlayStation or Xbox controller. Armed with a keyboard and mouse, coupled with aim-assist on console, these accessories give players an absolutely enormous advantage in competitive shooters. Their existence completely ruins the best shooters on PlayStation andbest shooters on Xbox, and I’m still at a loss why Microsoft hasn’t explored banning these accessories yet.
The new PlayStation 5 System Software update today appears to have disabled the ability to use Cronus software on the PS5 console.Cronus manufacturer has issued a notice on their website stating they are trying to fix the issue, but that for now, it is disabled cause of Sony. pic.twitter.com/lGLKs1hpNfJanuary 24, 2024
Their proliferation has been blamed for a hard decline in match quality in games like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Battlefield. You can turn more rapidly with a mouse, while still enjoying console-exclusive benefits like aim assist, designed to offset the disadvantages of a joystick. Joysticks have an activation gradation that mouse cursor players don’t have to deal with. Devices like Cronus and XIM allow mouse and keyboard players to spoof their way into the console play pool, throwing competitive play out of the window entirely.
Cronus released a statement on its website blaming Sony for the block, while professing its intents to bypass Sony’s security measures here. There’s no guarantee that Sony has found a silver bullet to permanently block these types of devices from accessing the system. Without creating some kind of proprietary, secure connector for future consoles, it could simply become an arms race between cheat accessories and console manufacturers.
Cheating sucks
-Best Xbox / PC gaming headsets-Best upcoming Xbox games-Best Xbox controllers-Best Xbox accessories-Best gaming laptops in 2024
One of the reasons I rarely bother playing shooters like Call of Duty or Battlefield on Xbox these days is how degraded the experience has become. Opting out of cross-play on Xbox is annoying already, since it’s a system-wide feature that blocks crossplay even in co-operative games. Microsoft does have features that allowkeyboard and mice designed for Xboxto connect to the PC pool instead of the console pool, but Cronus and XIM bypass that. When you throw in the fact that keyboard and mouse players canstillenter console gameplay pools using these accessories, it leaves a sour taste on the whole experience.
I’m not sure Microsoft appreciates how big of a problem this is for games like Halo Infinite and Rainbow Six Siege, which hinge on a fair playing field in competitive play. But I do appreciate that, when controllers use standard ports like USB and so on, that securing the signals that come into the console is tough.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
It’ll be interesting to watch how the battle between PlayStation and Cronus plays out.
Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
