News Archive

The next shipment of Cronus Zen's is now on it's way from US customs to our warehouse in Virginia. As soon as they arrive we'll get the rest of Batch #2 shipped out and then get started on Batch #3.

Thanks to everyone for your patience during this global chip shortage crisis we have now found ourselves in.

Sales of Cronus Zen are currently on hold while we wait for the next production batch to leave the factory, so congratulations if you were able to secure an order in Batch #7. 

The global shortage of microchips, caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has every major company in the electronics industry fighting to source components. Here's a great article from The Guardian that details this crisis if that's something you're interested in (and you can see we're not just making excuses here - it's important to our customer service philosophy that we're as transparent as possible).

"Chips are everything,” says Neil Campling, media and tech analyst at Mirabaud. “There is a perfect storm of supply and demand factors going on here. But basically, there is a new level of demand that can’t be kept up with, everyone is in crisis and it is getting worse."

Here is the latest Pre-Order Shipping Schedule as of 04/16. Whenever we receive more accurate production information from the factory, this page will always be updated. I expect Batch #2 (Part 2) to be completed and Batch #3 will likely split into 2. Will have more accurate numbers once the next shipment arrives at our warehouse in the next week or so. 

The global microchip shortage hasn't gotten any better these last few months. Sony, Microsoft and Apple have already announced that there will be a shortage of new consoles and phones manufactured this year due to the shortage, as well as multiple car manufacturers (try to order a new car with custom options - it's almost impossible).

Lead times of 3-6 months are being given for the most basic components, so instead of halting production we've decided to source parts elsewhere, so our cost per unit has massively increased for at least the next few months. To counter this we have had to raise the retail price of Cronus Zen to USD $99.99 / CAD $129.99 / GBP £89.99). 

We will of course honor the cheaper $89.99 price on all pre-order numbers below #131915. The next shipment is due on or before April 30 and this should cover all outstanding orders from Batch #2 and get started on Batch #3. Orders are still limited to one per customer. We do our best to keep to advertised schedules, however shipping dates and order number ranges are subject to change. Check this News Page for the latest Zen shipping information and updates.

Here is the latest Pre-Order Shipping Schedule as of 04/12. Whenever we receive more accurate production information from the factory, this page will always be updated.

Check back for more updates!

Charlie / MaxADMIN

The latest shipment of Zen's arrived on March 29th and we were able to ship several thousand orders from Batch #1 and Batch #2. There are still a few hundred left due to various issues (order range split, more than one Zen ordered, invalid address, no full name etc.) These customers will be contacted directly so we're able to get them all taken care of.

The next shipment is due in April - we're waiting for quality approval before it leaves the factory, we'll then get a more accurate date. This should be able to clear the rest of Batch #2 and most of Batch #3. I do expect Batch #3 to be split like Batch #2 was, but we won't have an updated order number range until the shipment arrives at our warehouse in Virginia.

As COVID restrictions are now slowly lifting in our supply, manufacturing and shipping chains, it's possible that the global chip shortage issue will be resolved before the end of May, so we hope to have 100% of the orders from all batches shipped by then, however we can't guarantee that yet so each batch is split into an estimated order and date range to help with expectations. I assure you we're doing our best to navigate this unprecedented situation that has affected the entire Tech industry....

Sadly we get a good number of customers who didn't read that this is a Pre-Order or that there is a fluid shipping schedule, or that it is maximum one perc customer and orders with more than one won't be shipped until the pre-order is over after Batches #5/#6, even though we take every measure to make sure this is advertised and highlighted as clearly as possible on the page that the Zen is purchased from. The latest schedule and pre-order terms are always posted to the Cronus Zen page here: shop.cronusmax.com/zen.html - here's the latest shipping schedule for your reference:

Unfortunately, some customers also feel it's appropriate to send abusive messages and threats to our support staff because they didn't read the pre-order information before purchasing. So please, remember that the dates and order number ranges are estimated and will most likely change after each shipment - if you don't want to wait, or if you need delivery by a guaranteed time, we ask that you please do not order as we will not be able to achieve the high level of customer satisfaction that we pride ourselves on.

If you wish to give up your Pre-Order spot to another gamer, you can cancel your order at any time with no questions asked and no hard feelings. Those instructions are also provided on the Returns Page (scroll down to 6. ORDER CANCELLATIONS).

It's been great reading all the messages from new Zen users this week, it's very much worth the wait so if your order was delayed, I know it sucks to wait, but give it a little longer, you won't be disappointed.

Have a safe weekend!

Charlie / MaxADMIN

Good news folks, the first of the long-delayed shipments of Cronus Zen has finally arrived at our warehouse in Virginia. The remainder of Batch #1 is being shipped today, and we'll also get started on Batch #2.

As soon as your order is packed you'll receive an email with your tracking information. It usually takes at least 24 hours to show up on the tracking system and depending on where you are there may be post office delays due to COVID restrictions.

The Batch #3 shipment should be ready to leave the factory soon - will post an updated schedule update as soon as the news is confirmed. You may have seen on the news that the global shipping chain was disrupted this last week due to the Suez Canal incident, so we're just waiting on our shipping time slot to be updated.

Eight weeks is a long wait for anything so I want to personally thank all those who have put so much faith in this product, we have some awesome updates planned this year, you're gonna love it :)

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

I just got word from our factory that they are now fully operational after the forced two week shutdown, and the first production run of Zen's has just completed. The next few days will be spent on Quality Checking and then we patiently wait for the shipment to clear US customs and delivered to our warehouse in Virginia. We should then be up to speed with receiving a major shipment every 2-3 weeks, putting us back on track to get the Pre-Orders cleared out and back on a regular shipping schedule with no wait times.

Thanks again to the loyal customers who have been patiently waiting in the pre-order queue, you guys are awesome!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

We have secured a good amount of the HORI PS4 Mini-Pad and Xbox Wireless Adapter v2 - both perfect additions to any Cronus toolbox....

Cronus Zen requires a third-party licensed PS4 controller for it to work with PS5 games. The HORI PS4 Mini-Pad is our recommended choice at only $29.99!

The Xbox Wireless Adapter v2 supports both Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One controllers for full wireless and crossover audio support with the Cronus Zen. Only $24.99!

Zen Pre-Order Update

The factories are now back open so we'll get word on the next shipment in a couple of days. Hopefully we'll be able to start shipping out Batch #2 towards the end of the month. Stay tuned for updates!

As production has been delayed for a couple of weeks, the pre-order batch numbers and schedule timetable has been simplified so it's easier to follow:

*A small number of orders couldn't be shipped in this batch but will be prioritized in the next batch. Check email for updates.

We expect to be able to start shipping Batch #2 at the end of March, and the rest of that Batch along with Batch #3 by the end of Mid/Late April. As soon as we get word of more definite shipping dates for the Batches #4 and #5, this news page will be updated and I'll make sure everyone is emailed with the latest info. The date ranges will be adjusted once shipments have cleared customs as that gives us a more accurate time table. Remember you can cancel your order at any time if you don't wish to wait any longer.

Thank you for your support and patience - and stay safe out there!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

The Cronus Store will be closed for a major upgrade from midnight tonight until 5am EST (or 5am until 10am GMT).

Thank you.

The March Cronus Zen Pre Order has now completely sold out and most of the orders from the January batches have now shipped (those that haven't shipped due to a bad address or other issue will be contacted by email).

Unfortunately due to the weather, there was a 2 week delay with the Jan #1 shipment which has also caused a delay with the Feb #1 shipment, so that has now been moved to mid March. As soon as the Zens leave the factory we'll be sure to get them out to you as quickly as we possibly can. Any order that we couldn't ship in the January batches will be given priority service once the next shipment arrives mid/late March.

In the meantime there are new GamePack updates this week for Fortnite Season 2 Chapter 6, Apex Legends Season 8 & FIFA 21 Instant Skills!

Thank you as always for your business and patience during these trying times - Stay safe out there!

~ Charlie

Quick update: The Jan #2 shipment is delayed until Monday due to the snowstorm that hit us here on the East Coast.

Sorry folks, sometimes these things are out of our control. We're on standby to get all orders shipped as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your continued patience.

The Zen Pre-Order #2 shipment for January is now in the country and clearing customs. It was supposed to get here today but will now most likely be Monday or Tuesday next week.

As soon as they arrive we'll have solid numbers on how many we'll be able to ship and will make sure everyone is informed and the schedule updated. We already have two more shipments lined up for straight after the Chinese New Year celebrations end mid February.

Thank you for your patience!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

First of all thank you to everyone for the overwhelming support we have received while manufacturing this product during the COVID crisis. It really means a lot to us when customers understand just how difficult it is to navigate all the new regulations and restrictions in different countries, so we truly appreciate and value your patience.

The next shipment is due to arrive any day now, and as soon as we know how many are available we'll be sure to notify everyone who is waiting for them to arrive.

On that note I do have some unfortunate news to share. Due to the devastating knock-on effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is now a worldwide shortage of most major electronic components which has caused all prices to increase, including a huge increase in overseas freight costs, so we have had to make the difficult decision to raise the MSRP of Cronus Zen to $89.99.

This does NOT effect any pre-order that has already been made and confirmed with the cheaper $79.99 - every single one of these orders will be honored at the older price.

Chinese New Year also begins on Feb 5 so the factories are all closing down and we will expect no more shipments to leave the factory until they open again mid to late February.

This is affecting all of our retail channels, so if you have managed to secure a pre-order with the Cronus store or the Collective Minds store,  I highly recommend you hold on to it until the stock is available to ship, as cancelling your order will only send you to the back of the queue and you'll likely not receive your Zen until early April. We ask that you do not succumb to the temptation of paying $300-$400 on eBay as these scalpers should be discouraged whenever possible.

As soon as the next shipment arrives I'll post an update with a revised schedule.

Thanks again - and stay safe out there!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

All order numbers up to #98853 have now shipped (there are a handful that we couldn't ship yet due to an invalid address, so make sure you verify your shipping address with by posting to the Cronus Support Center.

Here's the latest shipping schedule as of today. We should have word on the JAN #2 shipment in the next couple of days. 

JAN PRE-ORDER #1  01/22/2021 Order #96190 to #98853 **SOLD OUT & SHIPPED**
JAN PRE-ORDER #2  01/29/2021 Order #98854 to #103200 **SOLD OUT - SHIPPING SOON**
FEB PRE-ORDER #1  02/12/2021 Order #103201 to #107427 **SOLD OUT**
FEB PRE-ORDER #2  02/26/2021 Order #107428 to #109929 **SOLD OUT**
MAR PRE-ORDER #1  03/19/2021 Order #109929 and above **ON SALE NOW**

Remember these dates are estimated and will most likely change. The latest schedule is always posted to the Cronus Zen page here: shop.cronusmax.com/zen.html. If you wish to give up your Pre-Order spot to another gamer, you can cancel your order at any time, no questions asked and no hard feelings.

The first January shipment of Zen's have arrived two days early - it's a late Christmas miracle! Congrats to all those who managed to secure the hottest gaming add-on of the year without paying $300 on eBay.

Here's the current shipping schedule which is now sold out through March 2021!

JAN PRE-ORDER #1: 01/22/2021 Order #96190 to #98853 **SHIPPING NOW**
JAN PRE-ORDER #2: 01/29/2021 Order #98854 to #103200 **SOLD OUT**
FEB PRE-ORDER #1: 02/12/2021 Order #103201 to #107427 **SOLD OUT**
FEB PRE-ORDER #2: 02/26/2021 Order #107428 to #109929 **SOLD OUT**
MAR PRE-ORDER #1: 03/19/2021 Order #109929 and above **ON SALE NOW**

The second January shipment is leaving the factory this week and should arrive with US Customs late next week. 

In the meantime there's a LOT of new GamePack updates and video guides being produced right now. Here's a sneak peak at the newely designed Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War GamePack...

FEB PRE-ORDER #2  02/26/2021 Order #107428 to #109929 **SOLD OUT**

Sign up for a notification and we'll let you know as soon as Zen is available to purchase again. The first January shipment is clearing US customs and will arrive any day now.

Thank you for your patience - the first round of shipments for 2021 will begin in the next few days - check your email for updates.

Two changes to the shipping schedule today. The Jan #1 shipment is arriving next week but the amount is slightly less than we expected, so the order number ranges for that shipment have been adjusted. The rest of that shipment will arrive in the Jan #2 batch a week or so later.

February #1 has now sold out and Feb #2 is on sale! Checkout the updated shipping schedule below 

JAN PRE-ORDER #1  01/22/2021 Order #96190 to #98853 **SOLD OUT**
JAN PRE-ORDER #2  01/29/2021 Order #98854 to #105200 **SOLD OUT**
FEB PRE-ORDER #1  02/12/2021 Order #105201 to #107427 **SOLD OUT**
FEB PRE-ORDER #2  02/26/2021 Order #107428 and above **ON SALE NOW**

Note: Yes the product name now says FEB PRE ORDER but that does not mean your JAN order has been changed to FEB so don't panic. Your order is linked to the number, not the name :)

Have a great weekend folks!

~ Charlie

The January Pre Order has now completley sold out. We're getting two shipments towards the end of the month (approx 22nd and 29th) so congrats to all those who were able to get a spot in that batch!

We have now opened up the Friday Pre Order due to heavy demand. It's about 50% sold out already so if you want to get your hands on a Cronus Zen you can bag one right now: http://shop.cronusmax.com/zen.html

If there's any changes to the shipment dates i'll post here and also send out an email so every customer is kept up to date.

In the meantime the new v2.09 Zen firmware is fantastic. Now adds stable support for Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and also adds support for several new controllers including the much requested Xbox One Adaptive Controller. 

Stay safe out there!

~ Charlie

In this guide, I'll be taking you through everything from unboxing the Zen, how to set up all the software and controllers, programming GamePacks and easily tuning mods, and finally testing and using in-game.

There's a lot to get through and I've tried to break down the important elements, making it easy enough for everyone to understand, so the guide has been split into segments. Here are the timecodes so you can easily skip the segments you don't need or go directly to the ones you do:

Introduction: 00:00 - 01:40
Unboxing: 01:41 - 06:49
Firmware Update: 06:50 - 11:13
Setup Zen Studio: 11:14 - 18:26
Connect Controller: 18:27 - 24:39
Program GamePack: 24:40 - 33:00
Test on a Console: 33:01 - 39:01
Ending: 39:02 - 40:05

All December pre orders have now shipped! Please allow extra time to get there due to USPS delays in the US. 

Cronus Zen will also be available to buy with same day shipping later today!

The shipment of Zens for pre order batch #9 has arrived this afternoon so we're working on getting them out as quickly as possible.

Please remember that that there are delays all over the country with the post services so allow a little extra time for your parcel to arrive.

Thank you for your patience.

Happy Holidays! Cronus support will be limited on Christmas Eve and off on Christmas Day in order to enjoy time with our families. Regular hours for phone, chat, and email support will resume Monday, December 28. 

This is the "perfect storm" we've had to deal with this last week. After working our tails off to make sure the final shipment of Zens before Christmas reached our warehouse by Dec 18th, we have had to endure the catastrophic disappointment of being hit by a freak snowstorm.

The shipment arrived at US customs in New York on Wednesday, but couldn't leave as our location in Virginia was backed up with no access for trucks. The storm cleared Virginia by Friday but had now moved to.....you guessed it, New York - so it couldn't leave then either (grrrr)

So I finally have some good news - today (12/22) the shipment has left New York and currently on the way to our warehouse in Virginia. It usually takes 2-3 days so it will likely not be here by Thursday (12/24), but probably Monday 12/28. We have extra staff on hand to ensure every single parcel is shipped as quickly as possible. It shouldn't take more than 2-3 days.

There's enough stock to cover 100% of all outstanding orders and we will also be making sure there are Zens available to purchase with SAME DAY SHIPPING and also a short PreOrder for a big shipment that is due in January.

If you are one of the awesome customers patiently waiting for your Zen, we thank you for your support and understanding. Not long to wait now!

Stay Safe and I hope your holidays are blessed

~ Charlie Owen, Cronus Community Admin

Quick update for everyone waiting for Batch #9 to ship.

Our shipment of Zen's has been in New York since Thursday so not moved due to the major snow storm that hit us on the East Coast. So many disruptions all over the country right now, in particular USPS and other shipping companies.

The good news is that the weather has cleared enough for them to leave NY and be expedited to our warehouse in Virginia.

As soon as they arrive we'll have staff on hand to get all pending pre orders shipped as safely as possible.

Thankyou for your patience.

The final round of pre orders were due to start on Dec 18th, however our area was hit by a major snowstorm so trucks haven't been able to get to our location since yesterday morning. Unfortunatley that means the shipment will be slightly delayed until Monday Dec 21.  

We're doing our level best to get these last few thousand pre orders out the door as quickly and as safely as possible, we're simply in the hands of the Weather Gods at the moment.

Thanks to all our customers for their support and patience!

The Post Office has sent out warnings of delays during Christmas, the global COVID-19 pandemic and heavy storms in Virginia where we are based.

If your tracking seems to be stuck on "Accepted", or is showing as delayed, arriving late, or no movement for a few days, don't worry - it is normal and to be expected at this time of year. Your parcel is caught up in a bit of a jam but is on its way to you.

We appeciate your patience!

All International Pre Orders from Batch #9 have now been shipped, so that they have a shot at getting there before Christmas.

There's only about 1200 USA orders left to ship from Batch #9 and they will be sent out as soon as the next shipment arrives at our warehouse in Virginia - currently scheduled Dec 18th, but is more likely arriving on Dec 21st or 22nd as the freight company doesn't deliver on weekends (18th is a Friday).

USPS last postage day before Christmas is Dec 21 so we have extra staff on hand and will do our absolute best to have every pending order shipping out in time for Christmas. I should warn you that we're getting complaints due to USPS delays in the last week. Sadly it seems COVID + Christmas is taking it's toll so we ask that if you see no movement on your tracking not to worry, it's happening to everyone - in many cases the parcel is arriving even when the tracking hasn't updated.

If you have purchased a Zen specifically as a Christmas gift for someone, call Charlie or Keith on 540-491-0124 and we will do our best to make that happen for you.

Thanks to all our customers for their support and patience!

Charlie
Cronus Community Manager

The final round of Cronus Zen Pre Orders (Batch #9) have now begun to ship. The first half of the batch will be shipped out by the end of Dec 4th - this includes ALL International Orders so that they are able to arrive in time for Christmas. The second half of Batch #9 are all USA orders and they will be sent out as soon as that shipment arrives from the factory - currently scheduled Dec 18th. USPS last postage day before Christmas is Dec 21 so we have extra staff on hand to make sure every pre order is shipped out as safely as possible, in time for Christmas.

Thanks to all our customers for their support and patience!

Another shipment is arriving at our warehouse today so we'll be able to get the remainder of Batch #8 out as well as part of Batch #9. Shouldn't take us more than 2-3 days.

The shipment for the rest of batch #9 is currently being prepared at the factory and will arrive at our warehouse on 11/30. Please note we will be closed on 11/26 & 11/27 for the Thanksgiving Holidays.

This is also a regular reminder to double check your shipping address. We received 48 "Return to Sender" parcels last week due to customers not providing the correct address (#1 failure: Apartment Number) - the postage has to be re-paid on any of these so it not only saves you the time and onconvenience to make sure the information provided is correct, but it also saves you money.

Happy Thanksgiving week to all our customers - stay safe out there!

Batch #7 has almost completed (There's 47 left, most are invalid addresses or bulk orders)

Batch #8 shipments have already started 2 weeks early, and more are expected to arrive this weekend.

The shipment for Batch #9 has been misplaced by the freight forwarder and they're currently hunting it down. Hopefully it gets found in time for a shipment next week.

Thank you for your patience, we're shipping out every order as quickly as possible.