Over a thousand Chinese students on an engineering course at the Xi’an Institute of Technology were forced to manufacture and assemble the PlayStation 4. The students took part in an an unpaid internship at a controversial Foxconn factory, which saw them putting in hefty work hours.

As reported by Games In Asia, the students were told they were required to take part in two-month internships at the Chinese factory. They were given such tasks as packing the PS4’s in order to graduate the class.

Foxconn issued a statement to Quartz in which the company stated it has taken action to bring the facility in line with its policies regarding unpaid student interns.

“Immediate actions have been taken to bring that campus into full compliance with our code and policies,” said a Foxconn representative. The company is “reinforcing the policies of no overtime and no night shifts for student interns, even though such work is voluntary, and reminding all interns of their rights to terminate their participation in the program at any time.”

Naturally Sony issued a statement in which it stated that “the Sony Group established the ‘Sony Supplier Code of Conduct’ in June 2005 with the expectation of every supplier agreeing and adhering to the policies of the Sony Group in complying with all applicable laws, work ethics, labor conditions, and respect for human rights, environmental conservation and health and safety.” We understand Foxconn fully comprehend and comply with this Sony Supplier Code of Conduct.”

This is horrible timing for Sony which will see it’s next-gen console make it’s debut in a little over a month.