PS5 Console - Fortnite Cobalt Star Disc Edition Review: a solid PS5 with a nice bonus for Fortnite fans

I’ve been using this PS5 Console - Fortnite Cobalt Star Disc Edition for a few weeks now, mostly for Fortnite but also for a couple of other games (Spider-Man 2 and a few PS4 titles). At the end of the day, it’s a regular PS5 disc console with a themed bundle on top, so don’t expect a completely different machine. The real question is: does this specific Fortnite Cobalt Star bundle make sense, or is it just a cosmetic trap for kids and fans?

In daily use, it behaves exactly like any other PS5: fast loading, quiet most of the time, and the DualSense controller still feels pretty fresh if you’re upgrading from PS3 or PS4. Where this bundle stands out is the extra Fortnite content: skins, pickaxe, back bling, wrap, trail, and 1,000 V-Bucks. If you (or your kid) actually play Fortnite a lot, the value is not fake – you’d otherwise pay a decent chunk of money for that much in-game stuff.

On the other hand, if you don’t care about Fortnite, this edition is basically just a PS5 with a different marketing sticker. The console hardware is the same, the performance is the same, and the main difference is what you unlock in-game. I’ll go into detail on performance, value, and a couple of annoyances (like the missing vertical stand and the lack of browser) because those are the parts that actually matter in everyday use.

So overall, I’m looking at this as a normal PS5 first and a Fortnite pack second. If you’re trying to decide between this and a plain PS5, I’d say the decision mostly comes down to how much Fortnite is played in your house and whether the included cosmetics and V-Bucks are worth it to you. Everything else is just standard PS5 territory – which is good, but not mind-blowing at this point in the console’s life.

Value-wise, this bundle makes the most sense if Fortnite is heavily played in your home. You’re getting a full PS5 disc console plus around 5,000 V-Bucks worth of cosmetics and 1,000 V-Bucks in currency. If you normally buy skins and bundles in Fortnite, that’s not fake value – it saves you from spending that money later in the in-game store. For a kid who obsesses over skins, this bundle will probably hit the spot.

If you couldn’t care less about Fortnite, then this edition is basically just a standard PS5. In that case, I’d compare prices: if this Cobalt Star bundle is the same price or only slightly more than a plain PS5, it’s still fine; you just ignore the code. But if it’s significantly higher and you won’t use the content, you’re throwing money at cosmetics you’ll never touch. So the value is very dependent on how much you care about Fortnite cosmetics.

Compared to other PS5 bundles (like ones that include full games on disc or as downloads), this one is more targeted. You’re not getting a big single-player title; you’re getting add-ons for a free-to-play game. Personally, I’d say if you’re buying for yourself and you’re a light Fortnite player, I’d lean toward a bundle that comes with a full game instead. If you’re buying for a child who lives on Fortnite, this one probably has more impact than a single-player game they might never finish.

So in practice, good value for Fortnite fans, average value for everyone else. The hardware is great, but at this point in the PS5’s life cycle, that’s true of any PS5. What you’re really paying for here is the themed content. Just be honest with yourself (or your kid) about how much that actually matters before picking this over a more general bundle.

Design-wise, this is the same PS5 look everyone already knows: large white shell, black center, kind of a futuristic router vibe. The product page talks about Cobalt Star, but the console itself is not some crazy blue limited edition with custom plates out of the box; it’s basically the standard PS5 design, and the Cobalt part is mainly the Fortnite bundle theme, not the physical shell. So if you were expecting a bright blue console, that’s not what you get here unless you add separate plates later.

In my setup, I’ve got it lying horizontally in a TV unit, with some space around it so it can breathe. Vertical stand is sold separately, which is honestly a bit annoying on a console at this price. If you prefer it vertical, just know you’ll need to budget for that extra accessory. Horizontally, it’s stable and doesn’t wobble, but it does take up a fair bit of space. Compared to the PS3 and even the PS4, this thing is a bit of a chunky boy.

On the noise side, it’s pretty solid. During Fortnite and most PS5 games, the fan noise stays low – more of a gentle hum than a jet engine. Definitely quieter than my old launch PS4, which used to sound like it was trying to take off during heavy scenes. The only time I really hear it is in long sessions when the room is warm; even then it’s noticeable but not annoying. No coil whine issues on my unit either.

The front ports are practical: USB-A and USB-C on the front for quick charging or plugging in accessories, and more ports on the back. The disc drive is handy if you have physical games or watch Blu-rays. Overall, nothing special but effective: big console, neutral look, reasonably quiet. If you’re expecting some flashy Fortnite branding on the hardware itself, you may be a bit underwhelmed; it’s more of a normal PS5 that just happens to come with Fortnite stuff.

The console itself obviously plugs into the wall, so the only battery topic here is the DualSense controller. Sony includes one controller in the box, and it has an internal lithium-ion battery (already included). Battery life is decent but nothing more. In my use, playing mostly Fortnite and some single-player games, I usually get around 6–8 hours per full charge, depending on how intense the haptics and triggers are in the game.

When the controller’s haptics and adaptive triggers are heavily used, you can feel the battery drain a bit faster. If you turn those features down in the settings, you can squeeze a bit more life out of it, but then you lose part of what makes the DualSense interesting. Personally, I leave them on and just accept that I’ll plug it in regularly. Charging via USB-C is straightforward; I usually just hook it up to the front port of the PS5 when I’m browsing menus or taking a break.

If you’re used to the old PS3 controllers that seemed to run forever, this might feel like a step down. Compared to the PS4 controller, I’d say it’s roughly in the same ballpark, maybe slightly shorter with all the extra features active. For a heavy player or a household with kids who forget to charge, I’d honestly suggest getting a second controller or a charging dock. One controller is workable, but you’ll have downtime if you forget to plug it in.

So overall, battery life is fine but not impressive. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s something to keep in mind. The immersion from haptics and adaptive triggers is worth it in my opinion, but don’t expect to go several days of long sessions without charging. You’ll need to make charging a habit, especially with Fortnite marathons.

The packaging is pretty straightforward. The console comes in a branded PS5 Fortnite Cobalt Star box, and inside that you’ve got the usual cardboard inserts holding everything in place. The unit I had arrived in good shape with no dents or loose parts. Cables and the controller are bagged separately, and the paperwork is all in a thin envelope. Nothing fancy, but it protects the hardware well in transit. Several buyers mentioned good shipping protection, and that lines up with my experience.

Setup is simple: plug in power and HDMI, pair the controller with the USB-C cable the first time, and follow the on-screen instructions. You’ll need to sign in to a PlayStation Network account, do a few updates, and then you’re off. For Fortnite, you then link or log into your Epic account and redeem the code that comes in the box. From unboxing to playing took me maybe 30–40 minutes including updates, which is pretty standard these days.

The one thing that annoyed me a bit is the lack of a vertical stand in the box. The console is marketed standing up in a lot of photos, and then you realize you have to buy the stand separately if you want that setup. It’s not the end of the world, but for the price, it feels a bit cheap from Sony. Horizontally, you can still use it without extra accessories, but vertical would look nicer in many setups.

Otherwise, instructions are clear, no weird hidden steps. The Fortnite code is easy to find in the box and clearly labeled. So from a practical standpoint, the packaging and setup get the job done, with the only real downside being that missing stand. If you’re gifting this to someone, just keep in mind that out of the box it’s ready to play horizontally – anything fancier will need extra purchases.

On build quality, the console feels sturdy. At a bit over 10 pounds, it has some weight to it, and it doesn’t feel cheap or hollow. The plastic shell is standard PS5 stuff: not premium in the sense of metal or anything, but solid enough that I’m not worried about it flexing or cracking under normal use. I’ve moved it around a couple of times between rooms, and as long as you don’t treat it like a football, it holds up fine.

The fans and vents are the parts I pay attention to for durability. After several long gaming sessions, I haven’t noticed weird rattling, grinding noises, or overheating. The fan curve seems well-tuned: it ramps up a bit during heavy load but stays within reason. Obviously, dust will build up over months or years, so you’ll want to keep the area around it clean and not jam it into a closed cabinet. Compared to older consoles (like a PS3 that can run 10+ years), it’s too early to say if this PS5 will match that, but so far there are no red flags.

The DualSense controller feels nicer in the hand than the old DualShock 4, with a bit more weight and textured grips. Buttons and sticks feel tight so far, no drift on my unit, but stick drift is always a bit of a lottery with any modern controller. If you’re buying this for a kid who will rage-throw it at the couch or floor, I’d be a bit cautious – it’s not fragile, but it’s still electronics in a plastic shell.

Long story short: build quality is pretty solid, and nothing about this Fortnite edition seems cheaper or weaker than a regular PS5. It’s the same hardware, just bundled differently. If you take basic care of it (ventilation, dusting, not yanking cables), I don’t see any immediate durability issue. But if you’re expecting 15 years like some PS3 units, that’s more wishful thinking than something you can guarantee today.

In terms of performance, this PS5 does exactly what you’d expect from a current-gen console. Fortnite runs very smoothly, with fast loading and stable framerates. On a 4K TV with HDR, the picture is sharp and clean, and jumping into a match is way quicker than on older consoles. You really notice the SSD when launching the game or switching modes; the waiting time is short enough that you don’t feel like you’re wasting time between sessions.

The DualSense controller is still one of the strong points. In games that use haptic feedback and adaptive triggers properly, you actually feel different actions in your hands – not just random vibrations. Fortnite uses it to a certain degree, but where it really shows off is in other PS5 titles like racing games or shooters that were built around it. If you’re coming from PS3, it’s a big step up; from PS4, it’s a clear improvement but not some kind of shock.

Network-wise, the Wi‑Fi 6 support helps. My console is on Wi‑Fi about 8 meters from the router with a wall in between, and I haven’t had major lag spikes in Fortnite. Obviously, your mileage depends on your internet, but the console side is solid. Downloads for big games are more limited by my ISP than by the PS5. Online matches feel responsive, and I don’t feel like the console itself is bottlenecking anything.

For other games, same story: PS4 backward compatibility works well – I tried a few PS4 discs, and they loaded faster and sometimes ran smoother than on the original PS4. This is not a huge surprise at this point in the generation, but it’s good to confirm that this Fortnite edition isn’t some cut-down version. It’s a full PS5 with all the usual performance benefits: fast SSD, good graphics, and snappy system menus. It gets the job done and still feels current in 2025.

Out of the box, this is a standard PS5 disc console package with a Fortnite twist. You get the PS5 console (disc version), one DualSense controller, power cable, HDMI cable, USB-C cable for charging the controller, and the usual paperwork. On top of that, you get a code for the Fortnite Cobalt Star Pack plus 1,000 V-Bucks. The cosmetics listed are: Cobalt Snowfoot Outfit (with LEGO style), Sapphire Star Back Bling, Indigo Inverter Pickaxe, Discotheque Wheels (Gold Painted Style), Stella Trail (Gold Painted Style), Weathered Snow Stripes Wrap, Cobalt Crash Drums, and Krackle Boost (Gold Painted Style), plus the 1,000 V-Bucks.

Activating the Fortnite content is simple enough: you log into your Epic account on the console, redeem the code, and it all shows up in your locker. Took me maybe five minutes in total, nothing tricky there. The estimated value of 5,000 V-Bucks they mention basically means: if you bought this kind of cosmetic bundle separately, it would cost you roughly that much in the in-game store. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you care about skins and cosmetics. For a casual player, it’s just nice-to-have. For a kid who lives on Fortnite, it’s a big deal.

Important thing: hardware-wise, there’s nothing special or limited inside. Same CPU, GPU, SSD, same performance as any other PS5. So don’t expect more FPS or extra storage or anything like that. It’s purely a content bundle, not a hardware upgrade. If you saw the product name and thought you were getting some kind of “Fortnite edition” console with different specs, that’s not the case.

So in practice, the main factual value add here is: a normal PS5 disc console + roughly 6,000 V-Bucks worth of Fortnite stuff (5,000 estimated cosmetics value + 1,000 actual V-Bucks). If your alternative is a plain PS5 at the same or almost the same price, this bundle is the better deal as long as Fortnite is played in the house. If nobody touches Fortnite, you’re just paying for stuff you’ll never use.