The PlayStation 5 consoles used during the Guilty Gear -STRIVE- grand finals at EVO Japan 2025 allegedly experienced significant overheating problems, potentially altering the outcome of the championship match. EVO, partially owned by Sony, stands as one of the premier global fighting game tournaments, featuring popular titles like Guilty Gear -STRIVE-, Street Fighter, and Tekken.

Over recent years, EVO has grown into one of the most significant events in competitive gaming, attracting thousands of participants and massive viewership. Currently operated by Sony and Endeavor, the tournament series regularly draws over 400,000 spectators. Following Sony's acquisition of the EVO brand, PS5 consoles became the standard hardware for championship matches. While this decision aligns with Sony's marketing strategy, it has generated controversy, particularly during the Guilty Gear -STRIVE- finals at EVO Japan 2025.

One of the Guilty Gear -STRIVE- finalists, along with numerous attendees and fighting game professionals, reported that an overheating PS5 significantly impacted the championship match. RedDitto, representing the United States at EVO Japan 2025, suggested that the console's excessive heat likely caused his controller adapter to malfunction. Match footage shows both RedDitto and his Korean opponent, Kim "Daru" Jae-won, experiencing brief pauses during gameplay, potentially due to hardware issues. The Arc World Tour champion later tweeted about the PS5 "melting" his Brooks adapter, prompting other professional players to criticize the tournament's reliance on PS5 hardware.

Another competitor revealed they had to lend their controller adapter to RedDitto before the finals, claiming the overheated console was damaging his equipment. This incident suggests potential flaws in the PS5's cooling system, especially considering tournament consoles operate continuously for extended periods. While EVO Championship Series officials haven't issued an official statement, the community continues debating whether the malfunction originated from the console or peripheral devices.

Following RedDitto's controversial loss, professional player Punk shared similar experiences. He attributed his defeat in the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves tournament to sudden controller failure mid-match. Punk noted identical issues occurred during EVO Championship Series 2024 while competing in Street Fighter 6. Some community members have suggested reintroducing Xbox consoles as tournament hardware, claiming they offer better performance for fighting games.