Cronus Zens
Cronus Zen vs CronusMAX Plus
Buy a Cronus Zen. Collective Minds discontinued the CronusMAX Plus in 2019 and no longer sells it, and it cannot play on PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Switch. A CronusMAX Plus you already own is only worth keeping for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 or PC, and its scripts run on a Zen when you move up.
We run Cronus Zens, a script site for the Cronus Zen, so this page is ours. Hardware facts come from Collective Minds’ own pages, linked where they are used, as checked on Oct 29, 2026. We are not affiliated with Collective Minds and do not sell either device.
Side by side
| Cronus Zen | CronusMAX Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Sold by Collective Minds | Discontinued in 2019, not in Collective Minds’ stores |
| Price | $109.99 at Collective Minds’ store, plus a $29.99 Zen Link for PS5 | No new price; a 2016 review listed $59.99 |
| Screen | 128x64 OLED | None, programmable RGB LEDs |
| Memory slots | 8 of 32 KB | 9 of 4 KB |
| USB ports | 3 inputs, 2 outputs, built-in hub | 1 input, 2 outputs, no hub |
| PS5 | Yes, with Zen Link | No |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | No |
| Nintendo Switch | Yes, but not Switch 2 | No |
| PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 | Yes | Yes |
| Mouse and keyboard | Plugged straight into the Zen | Not supported directly |
| Software | Zen Studio, or the Cronus Zens Studio in the browser | Cronus Pro v1.2.1, the final release |
| Scripts | Runs CronusMAX scripts as well | Cannot run scripts that use Zen-only commands |
| PS4 Strike Pack | Paddles and Strike Pack mods work alongside Zen mods | Not supported |
The CronusMAX Plus is discontinued
Collective Minds’ downloads page lists Cronus Pro v1.2.1 as the final software release for the CronusMAX, discontinued in 2019, with no further updates. Neither of Collective Minds’ stores sells it, and its guide describes the Cronus Zen as the next-generation successor.
The Zen is current: it was $109.99 and in stock at Collective Minds’ store when we checked. PS5 play needs the Zen Link adapter, $29.99 at the same store. For the CronusMAX Plus there is no current price from Collective Minds; CGMagazine’s 2016 review listed it at $59.99.
Which consoles each one works on
Collective Minds’ own Zen vs CronusMAX page says the CronusMAX Plus does not support the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X|S or the Nintendo Switch. It connects any supported controller to Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Windows PC. On PS4 it needs an external USB hub for crossover controllers and racing wheels, or it disconnects every 8 to 10 minutes.
The Zen’s guide lists PS5 (with Zen Link), PS4, PS3, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Switch as fully supported. It does not support the Switch 2. Setup for each console is in our guides for PS5, Xbox and Switch.
Scripts move up, not down
Both devices run GPC scripts. Collective Minds says the Zen is backwards compatible with all CronusMAX scripts, but scripts that use the Zen’s newer GPC commands, such as get_keyboard() and set_polar(), will not work on a CronusMAX. Its GPC guide adds that Zen Studio compiles 32-bit by default and keeps a 16-bit option for older scripts.
Memory is the bigger gap. A Zen slot holds 32 KB against the CronusMAX’s 4 KB, and the Zen has a screen, so scripts that draw their menus on the Zen, like our cronus2K for NBA 2K27, need a Zen. Every script on cronuszens.com is made for the Zen, and the Studio on this site programs the Zen only.
Screen, slots, ports and speed
- The Zen’s 128x64 OLED shows the slot, script menus and settings. The CronusMAX has coloured LEDs only.
- Eight 32 KB slots on the Zen against nine 4 KB slots on the CronusMAX.
- Three USB inputs and a built-in hub on the Zen, so a controller, keyboard and mouse can be plugged in at once, as in our mouse and keyboard setup. The CronusMAX has one input and no hub.
- Bluetooth on the Zen is built in. On the CronusMAX, Collective Minds lists Bluetooth for PS4, PS3, Wiimote and Wii U Pro controllers.
- Collective Minds’ FAQ calls the Zen’s processing power exponentially greater than the CronusMAX Plus’s.
Controllers each one takes
Collective Minds’ Zen guide says the Zen takes every official PS5, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch and Wii controller, and most licensed third-party ones. To play with a controller from another console, you leave a controller that matches the console in A1 and plug yours into A3, except on Switch, as our wired controller guide explains. The full list is in supported controllers.
The CronusMAX Plus does crossover too, with more limits. Its comparison page says several newer PS4 controllers do not work with it over Bluetooth, naming the Astro C40, Scuf Vantage and Razer Raiju Tournament Edition, and that crossover on a PS4 needs the external hub mentioned above.
Moving from a CronusMAX Plus to a Zen
- Your GPC scripts come with you. Compile old 16-bit ones with the legacy option in Zen Studio.
- Cronus Pro does not work with the Zen. Program it from the Studio on this site or Collective Minds’ Zen Studio.
- Update the Zen’s firmware first in the Updater.
- A PS4 Strike Pack Dominator works with the Zen, paddles included.
- Start from the quick start guide.
CronusMAX Plus questions
Is the CronusMAX Plus discontinued?
Yes. Collective Minds lists Cronus Pro v1.2.1 as the final software for the CronusMAX, discontinued in 2019, and does not sell the device any more.
Does the CronusMAX Plus work on PS5?
No. Collective Minds says it does not support the PS5, the Xbox Series X|S or the Nintendo Switch. The Cronus Zen supports all three, with Zen Link on PS5.
Do CronusMAX scripts work on a Cronus Zen?
Yes. Collective Minds says the Zen is backwards compatible with all CronusMAX scripts. Old 16-bit scripts need the legacy 16-bit compiler in Zen Studio.
Can Cronus Zens program a CronusMAX Plus?
No. The Studio on cronuszens.com programs the Cronus Zen only, and our scripts are made for the Zen.
Is a used CronusMAX Plus worth buying instead?
Only for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 or PC. It cannot play on PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Switch, and its software gets no more updates.
Can I use either one in Fortnite?
No. Epic prohibits the Cronus Zen and Cronus Max in Fortnite. What each publisher has said is in our guide Can you get banned?