News Archive

Due to the global shortage of microchips caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we've been limited to the amount of Cronus Zen's we're able to produce each month, so to make sure everyone has a fair shot at getting one without paying over the top prices on eBay, a Pre-Order system was setup so customers could allocate a Zen from one of the monthly shipments we received.

For most of the year the waiting list was between 90-120 days (bless all you crazy gamers who waited that long!), but now that we've almost caught up with the entire pre-order allocation, the waiting list has been drastically reduced to just 30 days. Not only that, but we're able to start shipping Batch #8 two weeks earlier than expected - and any that we couldn't yet ship have been moved to Batch #9, which is still scheduled to ship in October so don't worry if your batch number changed - there's no delays). 

No one likes to wait, we get it, but we promise it's worth it. There's a reason everyone wants a Zen - you're going to have a lot of fun with it ;)

As promised here is the latest Zen Pre-Order Shipping Schedule as of 09/20. Whenever we receive more accurate production information from the factory, this page will always be updated. We expect Batch #9 to start shipping within two weeks.

The U.S. Postal Service has TEMPORARILY suspended First Class Package International Service and Priority Mail International delivery to Australia due to carrier issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

If your package is already in transit, Australia carriers will endorse the items as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender” and then place the package in the mail stream for return to us here at Cronus. If any packages are returned we will make arrangements to have them re-shipped to you by an alternative method.

We're getting asked a lot of questions regarding the PS5 workaround used by Cronus Zen not working with some PS5 games, so I have compiled this FAQ that should answer any questions you may have:

https://guide.cronusmax.com/sy...

Have a great weekend!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

Great news - the shipment of all Cronus Zen Batch #7 pre-orders has finally completed, so all orders up to 137397 have now shipped. Batch #8 is on schedule to arrive before the end of September so we're finally getting ahead of the pre-order queue :)

As soon as the next shipment arrives we'll let you know exactley how many of Batch #8 we are able to ship out - hopefully all of them!

Quick update: About 90% of Batch #7 orders have now shipped with tracking numbers emailed, the rest will leave over the next couple of days. The shipping schedule will then be updated ready for the next batches.

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

Good news! The August shipment of Cronus Zen has finally left the factory and is now on its way to our warehouse in Virginia. As soon as they land, all order numbers below #131299 can expect a tracking email either before the weekend or on Monday (Customers who paid for USPS Priority postage will receive their orders first - we've also drafted in extra staff to try and get as many out as possible before the weekend).

Here is the latest Pre-Order Shipping Schedule as of 08/19. Please note that all shipping dates and order number ranges are always estimated due to a volatile IC market. The good news is that chip production has started to improve, however we have cautiously spaced the batches out in case of any further unexpected delays. Whenever we receive more accurate production information from the factory, this schedule will always be updated

Admin Note: Our support team have reported some customers sending threats and abusive messages due to their order not being shipped yet. If you didn't read the pre-order terms before purchasing and don't want to wait, simply cancel your order and your spot in the queue will be passed on to someone else.

A quick note to let you know the August shipment of Cronus Zen has left our factory and on its way to our warehouse in Virginia, USA.

Stay tuned for further updates!

A quick post to let you know the Zen shipment has now arrived at our warehouse a couple of days later than scheduled. We're now working on getting the rest of Batch #5 and Batch #6 (Part 1) shipped.

Thank you for your patience!

The shipment for the end of July has been delayed due to half the shipment being stuck in US customs and the other half still on the dock waiting to load on to an aircraft from our factories location. The good news is we will be able to finish Batch #5 next week, however Batch #6 will have to be split into two parts while we wait for the delayed batch to arrive, most likely in the next couple of weeks.

Here is the latest Pre-Order Shipping Schedule as of 07/23. Please note that all shipping dates and order number ranges are estimated - check back for regular updates.

Good news for Batch #5 customers - the Zen Shipment is currently on its way and we expect it to clear US customs by next week. There may also be a second shipment before the end of July so we will be able to start shipping out Batch #6 also.

It's still quite a challenge to source the parts necessary to build Zen's due to the global chip shortage, but once you get one, you'll understand why it was worth the wait :)

I hope everyone is having a good Summer so far!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

Batch #4 has started to ship. About 60% of orders have shipped with tracking numbers emailed, the rest will leave on Monday. The shipping schedule will then be updated ready for the next batches.

Have a great weekend!

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

A quick update on the next Zen shipment, I was expecting it to arrive today but it's still stuck in customs due to a backlog of shipments coming into the country.

Patiently waiting - I'm told it will be this week so as soon as it lands I will post here to let you guys know.

~ Charlie / MaxADMIN

Here's the latest Cronus Zen Pre-Order shipping schedule as of June 15th 2021. There are still a few dozen orders from Batches 1, 2 & 3 yet to be shipped due to an invalid address or have ordered more than one Zen (it's maximum one per customer). These are being handled on a case by case basis.

Batch #4 was originally due to arrive at the end of June but good news as it is clearing US customs as we speak and should arrive at our warehouse either by the end of this week or Monday next week :)

Batch #5 was originally slated for June but will likely arrive early July. As soon as there's news on that from the factory this schedule will be updated.

Batches #6 - #9 shipping schedules remain unchanged until we hear otherwise.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Cronus Support at https://support.cronusmax.com 

The May shipment of Zen's have finally arrived (it should have gotten here on Wednesday no thanks to UPS Freight). We're packing through the weekend to make sure all outstanding orders from Batches #1  and #2, including new shipments from Batch #3 are picked up as soon as the Post Office opens up on Tuesday after this weekend's holidays. The shipment for Batch #4 is expected to arrive late June, and Batch #5 is likely to arrive in July - stay tuned for updates.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

The next shipment of Zen's is currently being prepared and should leave the factory by the end of the week, and if all goes well with shipping and customs, it takes about 2 weeks to get to our warehouse.

The global chip crisis which I'm sure you have all heard of by now is taking it's toll on every aspect of the electronics industry, causing the wait time for any new product to be around 3-4 months. However, rather than shut down production, we're doing our level best to make sure the necessary components are sourced as quickly and as cost effectively as possible so we're able to manufacture and fulfill as many orders as we can, keeping the waiting times down to a minimum.

As soon as the shipment arrives we should be able to get the rest of Batch #3 shipped out, and will then have more information regarding the subsequent shipment batches.

Thanks for your patience!

Charlie / MaxADMIN

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...