Jasen Hicks, founder of boutique controller maker Jasen's Customs, has confirmed a costly manufacturing error on the high-end Panzer SLAB arcade fight stick that threatens the small business.
The Panzer SLAB, an "all button" fight stick priced at $450, had reached production-ready status after years of design work dating back to Hicks's company founding in 2012.
Key components such as programmed PCBs, bottom pads, displays, wiring harnesses and Brook Gen5X interface boards were prepared when an issue with machined aluminium cases emerged.
Hicks explained that during initial assembly the AUX buttons sat flush with the case rather than protruding as designed.
An investigation revealed every critical dimension was offset by 5mm due to a change made between prototype and final production files.
Hicks accepted full responsibility, saying the dimensional change was his oversight and that, because each case is machined from a single block of aluminium, none of the units in inventory could be salvaged or reworked.
The cost to remake the affected SLAB cases is roughly $15,000.
In journalistic terms, Hicks acknowledged the severity of the situation: he said the error was his alone, that all current SLAB cases must be remade from scratch, and that the financial hit is significant for a small-margin manufacturer.
He also warned the loss could jeopardize the company's future, noting that continued soft demand for high-end fight sticks combined with this expense makes shutting the business a real possibility he is not prepared to rule out.
Hicks has paused SLAB pre-orders while he reworks and verifies the corrected case design.
He confirmed that once the corrected design is validated, every existing pre-order will enter production, and buyers who no longer wish to wait can request a full refund, which will reduce remake volume.
He added he has not decided whether production of the SLAB will continue after fulfilling current orders.
To help bridge the gap, Jasen's Customs is running a sweepstake offering five prototype Panzer SLAB controllers featuring custom art by BigRainbow; entries can be made for free or by paying $5 for a ticket, both options providing equal odds.
Hicks is also asking customers and community members to share experiences with his controllers to drive renewed interest and revenue.
The incident underscores the fragile economics of niche hardware manufacturing and the importance of final design verification before committing to production.
For competitive fighting-game players and hardware enthusiasts who follow boutique peripherals for platforms ranging from consoles such as the Nintendo Switch to PC, Jasen's Customs' next steps will be closely watched by the community.
The Panzer SLAB, an "all button" fight stick priced at $450, had reached production-ready status after years of design work dating back to Hicks's company founding in 2012.
Key components such as programmed PCBs, bottom pads, displays, wiring harnesses and Brook Gen5X interface boards were prepared when an issue with machined aluminium cases emerged.
Hicks explained that during initial assembly the AUX buttons sat flush with the case rather than protruding as designed.
An investigation revealed every critical dimension was offset by 5mm due to a change made between prototype and final production files.
Hicks accepted full responsibility, saying the dimensional change was his oversight and that, because each case is machined from a single block of aluminium, none of the units in inventory could be salvaged or reworked.
The cost to remake the affected SLAB cases is roughly $15,000.
In journalistic terms, Hicks acknowledged the severity of the situation: he said the error was his alone, that all current SLAB cases must be remade from scratch, and that the financial hit is significant for a small-margin manufacturer.
He also warned the loss could jeopardize the company's future, noting that continued soft demand for high-end fight sticks combined with this expense makes shutting the business a real possibility he is not prepared to rule out.
Hicks has paused SLAB pre-orders while he reworks and verifies the corrected case design.
He confirmed that once the corrected design is validated, every existing pre-order will enter production, and buyers who no longer wish to wait can request a full refund, which will reduce remake volume.
He added he has not decided whether production of the SLAB will continue after fulfilling current orders.
To help bridge the gap, Jasen's Customs is running a sweepstake offering five prototype Panzer SLAB controllers featuring custom art by BigRainbow; entries can be made for free or by paying $5 for a ticket, both options providing equal odds.
Hicks is also asking customers and community members to share experiences with his controllers to drive renewed interest and revenue.
The incident underscores the fragile economics of niche hardware manufacturing and the importance of final design verification before committing to production.
For competitive fighting-game players and hardware enthusiasts who follow boutique peripherals for platforms ranging from consoles such as the Nintendo Switch to PC, Jasen's Customs' next steps will be closely watched by the community.
