A sizzling potato: NZXT has responded to a damning video from YouTube channel Players Nexus that accuses the PC {hardware} big of operating a “predatory, evil rental pc rip-off.” This system in query is its Flex subscription-based service for desktop PCs, which GN says makes use of “bait and swap” techniques. There are different accusations, too, together with faked benchmarks and aggressive phrases.
NZXT’s Flex program basically lets individuals lease a gaming PC, which means they do not pay the one-off excessive value related to these machines. Nevertheless, as we talked about on the time, the usually three-figure month-to-month rental prices add up in a short time, exceeding the quantity you’ll pay to buy a brand new PC outright in just some months.
Players Nexus discovered that NZXT frequently adjustments not solely the costs but in addition the specs of a few of its fashions, generally every day.
One significantly underhand scheme was to supply PCs with the identical identify for each buy and rental. However the subscription-based PCs swap out a few of the {hardware} for much less highly effective/older/cheaper components with out making this clear.
One instance was the Participant: Three PC which comes with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous graphics card and an Intel Core i7-13700KF should you purchase it, whereas subscribing swaps the GPU for a 4070 Ti non-Tremendous mannequin. What’s even worse is that the FPS gaming benchmarks for each PCs are unchanged, which as our evaluate exhibits, is not correct.
NZXT’s pricing can also be criticized. Players Nexus exhibits that within the case of the Participant: Two PC, it could take simply seven months of rental funds to afford the components to construct an equal machine. A dearer pre-build could possibly be purchased with 9 months price of rental funds. Even utilizing a cost plan (mortgage, bank card) would take only a yr to totally repay the PC and personal it outright.
GN discovered that 5 years of cost on NZXT’s subscription got here to $15,540. That is the equal to an unlawful, 103% curiosity mortgage – you’d additionally personal a number of PCs on the finish of it.
There are many different areas of NZXT Flex that the hour-long video examines, together with privateness issues, influencers pushing the Flex program, aggressive phrases and circumstances, and no assure that the specs listed are those you will get within the PC.
NZXT has responded to the Players Nexus video with a submit on social medial.
“To the NZXT group. We have heard your issues. We’re conscious of the current claims made in opposition to us and are actively reviewing the scenario. Relaxation assured, we’re dedicated to addressing this totally and can share an official assertion quickly,” it reads
On account of the investigation, Players Nexus has terminated a $23,000 deal NZXT needed to promote on the favored YouTube channel.
