KFC Console: Specs, Price, Release Date, Controller, and Games

In June 2020, the gaming world was met with a finger-lickin’ revelation as KFC (yes – KFC) announced a new gaming console to go head-to-head with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Officially called the KFC console, it promised to offer gameplay at 4K resolution with refresh rates of up to 240 Hz. The standout feature of the console, though, is its patented Chicken Chamber.

This is essentially a heated compartment within the console designed to keep your fried chicken – or any other food item, for that matter – piping hot while you enjoy your gaming session. So, what exactly is this console, how did it come to fruition, and how can you get it for yourself? Read on to find out everything you need to know about KFC’s latest and greatest gaming invention, including KFC Console price, release date, controller, games and gameplay, and pre-order details.

About KFC Console

The console from KFC is an upcoming gaming machine being released by KFC in partnership with the popular custom-PC hardware company Cooler Master. Understandably, then, KFC’s new gaming console is less of a console and more of a high-powered custom gaming PC. Under the hood, it sports an Intel NUC 9 Extreme Compute Element containing a 9th-Gen Intel Core i9-9980HK processor. This is coupled with a hot-swappable ASUS RTX graphics card. For storage, the console offers two Seagate Barracuda/Firecuda 1 TB SSDs. All of this adds up to offer a VR-ready, ray-tracing-fueled gameplay experience rendered in 4K resolution with framerates up to 240 fps.

Moreover, the package is just as impressive as its contents. The new console’s design takes inspiration from KFC’s Bargain Bucket. Helmed by the Swedish craftsman ‘Timpelay,’ the design uses a custom build of Cooler Master’s NC100 chassis. It features a classy cylindrical black chassis with a red-backlit power button and cooling fans at the top covered by a grill. Taking center stage, though, is the Chicken Chamber heating compartment that makes the console as unique as it is.

Is the KFC Console Real?

As ridiculous and preposterous as it sounds, we must confirm that this wonderous creation is indeed real. It was initially announced in June 2020, and then officially revealed in December of the same year. Additionally, Cooler Master’s association with the product also lends it a good amount of credibility. Multiple reputed outlets also covered the reveal, including Forbes, BBC, and The Independent.

KFC gaming console, though a surprise, is not a complete departure for KFC. The fast-food chain has made multiple forays into the world of gaming before. In May 2015, KFC released a retro-inspired video game called ‘Colonel Quest,’ where gamers could play as Colonel Sanders in a variety of mini-games. Moreover, the game also came with limited-edition drumstick-shaped controllers! Afterward, in September 2019, KFC released a dating simulator on Steam called ‘I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger-Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator,’ which is used as a base test for the consoles performance.

What’s more? KFC also released a themed controller for the Xbox Series X console and a fried chicken keyboard, mouse, and USB stick. Additionally, it came out with the Gamer’s Box 2.0 – a takeout box that could also serve as a Bluetooth controller and dock for your phone while you game! KFC also released a virtual reality experience called ‘The Hard Way: A KFC Virtual Training Escape Room.’

All of that is to say that a next-gen gaming console was perhaps only the next logical step in KFC’s progression, and is most definitely real!

Also Read: PlayStation 5 Cost Reduction Is “Very Difficult” As Per Sony President

KFC Console Specifications

The upcoming console houses an impressive array of hardware to provide a buttery-smooth gaming experience in the latest games. It aims to provide 4K resolution with 240 Hz output and gameplay up to 240 fps, coupled with bells and whistles such as ray tracing and VR support. Here are the components that make it all happen.

• Intel NUC 9 Extreme Compute Element with 9th-Gen Intel Core i9-9980HK
• ASUS RTX graphics card
• 2 x Seagate Barracuda/Firecuda 1 TB SSDs
• Custom Cooler Master NC100 chassis

These are all the details we currently have regarding the specifications of the KFConsole. However, expect more in-depth information to be revealed down the line!

How Does The KFC Console Work?

KFC’s newest gaming announcement seems like just another console until you look at its trump card – the patented Chicken Chamber, which is essentially a compartment within the console designed to keep your fried or baked snacks warm during intense gaming sessions. But how does this Willy Wonka-esque invention actually work?

Contrary to first impressions, the compartment does not use built-in heating elements. Instead, it relies on the heat produced by the console’s components themselves to warm the food. If you have been a gamer for any length of time, especially on PC, you will know how much heat your GPU and CPU produce. So much so that they require elaborate cooling solutions, such as heatsinks and even water coolers, to dissipate the heat effectively.

In fact, we expect the KFC console’s components to use anywhere from 600 to 700 watts of power at peak performance. Most of this energy is converted to heat by the components. Compare that with the large food heaters used in fast-food restaurants that usually take up about 250 watts of power, and you can see how there should be plenty of heat for the Chicken Chamber to do its thing. All in all, this new gaming console is definitely a stroke of crazy genius from KFC.

KFC Console Trailer

KFC gave us our very first look at the KFConsole in the form of a reveal trailer uploaded to KFC Gaming‘s YouTube channel. The trailer was released on June 15, 2020, and created ripples across the gaming sphere. At the time of writing, the trailer has more than 2.5 million views on YouTube. It has garnered mostly favorable (and often humorous) responses from gamers. You can take a look at the trailer below.

The reveal trailer shows off some pristine renders of the KFConsole, while also touting its major features such as the Chicken Chamber. It also shows some visual characteristics of the console. For example, we see a red illuminated power button that turns white once the console is turned on. Similarly, a white illuminated ring surrounds the disc reader.

Another trailer premiered on December 22, 2020, which gives us some more renders.

This trailer also shows a red LED strip along the bottom of the console light up whatever surface it is placed on. Until we get a better hands-on look at an actual unit, though, this is all we have to go on. Nonetheless, the console is sure to be a looker!

KFC Console Controller

Though KFC has released a limited-edition Xbox Series X controller before, it currently has not announced any custom controller for its own gaming console. This had led to users asking if such a controller is even in the works. Though this may be the case, the console may also work with any keyboard and mouse of your choice. This would make sense since the console is more of a custom PC than an actual console, running on premade Intel and Nvidia hardware.

If KFC’s console does indeed behave like a PC, it may also be possible to use controllers from other consoles on it, including the PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Beware, though – the temptation of fried chicken during games will likely grease up your controller like nothing else!

KFC Console Design 

If you look at the KFC Console, you will see that its shape is very similar to the famous KFC Chicken Bucket. It’s also based on the Cooler Master’s NC100 Chassis custom version. There is a tiny power button on the front and a large compartment as well. The compartment was made to keep your fried chicken warm while you enjoy your games. 

If you take a look at the bottom of the console, there are RGB lights that make the console looks way more relaxed. You can customize the console as well, and we’re sure that the console will be available in many colors other than black. 

KFC Console Games

With a new console coming out, it is reasonable to think about the games you can play on it. In fact, every new PlayStation and Xbox console has launched with a host of exclusive games that get players excited to own the console. However, so far, such has not been the case with the KFC console. KFC has yet to announce any exclusive games that the console will be able to run.

Nevertheless, since the console is expected to be based on a PC-like architecture, it may run some version of Windows. If that is the case, the KFC console should be able to run pretty much any game that a standard PC can, albeit with an extraordinary amount of ‘oomph’ thanks to those impressive specs.

Similarly, we are yet to see any gameplay from KFC’s gaming console. If the claims are to be believed, though, the console should have no issues playing the latest games at 4K resolution and extremely high refresh rates. This is also supported by the beefy hardware the system is set to ship with. Moreover, since users will apparently have the ability the ‘hot-swap’ the graphics card, their KFC gaming console should be able to keep up with new games for quite a while.

KFC Console Will Feature NVME SSD With 6X Faster Data Rates

KFC and Cooler Master have partnered up with Seagate, who’ll implement their BaraCude SSDs into the console. These SSDs supposedly feature some of the fastest read/write speeds out of the box that we’ve seen to date. 

This is a great sign for players who just want to get into their games faster without wasting their time reading loading screen tips. This level of storage technology puts it on par with the latest and greatest consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

KFC Console Price 

We do not yet know how much the KFConsole is going to cost customers. However, considering the internals, one should expect a pretty hefty price tag on KFC’s new console.

For example, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Compute Element found within the console itself is priced around $1000. The graphics options for the console, an RTX-based solution, are likely to cost anywhere between $250 and $500. Couple this with the SSDs priced around $200, and the custom Cooler Master NC100 chassis going for around $200 as well.

Hence, if you price it according to these individual components, the new KFC gaming console could be priced near the range of $2000. However, as it does function as a mini-PC, the price of KFC’s console may fall under the $1000 mark. If the price does end up being around these numbers, we expect it to appeal more to collectors rather than to the average gamer.

Should I Buy the KFConsole?

The KFConsole is definitely an innovation we did not know we needed. It makes a compelling case for itself thanks to its monstrous specifications and its promise to provide the best console gaming experience ever. With that said, the expectedly high price and prominent look of the KFC Console will mean that it will not be for everyone. Although we do expect the console to appeal to collectors, we do not think the average gamer will find enough utility in it to justify the price.

Moreover, the unique Chicken Chamber, though very appealing to the palate, eventually comes off as more of a ‘wow’ factor than a useful addition. The prospect of storing greasy chicken within your console and retrieving it for an occasional munch sounds like a luxury not worth the hassle it comes with.

Therefore, we recommend holding out for more information before deciding to put aside some dough for the new KFC Console.

KFC Console Release Date and Pre-Order

Officially, there is no word yet on the release date or pre-order details for the new KFC gaming console. An April fool’s joke circulating on the internet did promise a release date of December 10, 2021. However, considering how that date has come and gone, it would be prudent to wait for official information.

The closest thing we got to an official release date was a tweet from the KFC Gaming Twitter handle simply stating ‘The KFC console release date is’ with no information to follow that up. A clever marketing ploy, to be sure, but intriguing nonetheless.

It is safe to say, though, that fans are eagerly awaiting any information they can get on the release date or pre-orders of KFC’s gaming console.

Conclusion

That is all the information we currently have about the console by KFC. What are your thoughts about KFC’s gaming console, and are you excited to hear more about its potential price, controller support, games list and gameplay, and release date and pre-order details? Leave us all your thoughts in the comments section down below!