High temperatures and advanced technology often don't mix well. The newly released Nintendo Switch 2 (and its predecessor) are no exception. Nintendo's Japanese customer service X account recently posted that the Switch and Switch 2 should only be used between 5 and 35 degrees Celsius (41 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit).
“Using Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 in a hot environment may cause the console to become hot. Please use it in a place between 5 and 35 degrees C, as it may cause a malfunction,” Nintendo Japan’s customer service posted on X. “Recently, the temperature has been exceeding 35°C for several days. Please be careful when using outdoors."
Although the Japanese account posted the PSA, this applies to consoles sold worldwide. If you live in a hotter climate and want to play your Switch outside, ensure the temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit; otherwise, your console may malfunction. And while Nintendo didn't specify whether it would be the type of malfunction that could cause long-term damage, I think most would rather not risk it.
If you're playing in an air-conditioned area or in a climate that doesn't exceed those temperatures, then you have nothing to worry about. But if you're in a hot environment that doesn't have access to an air conditioner or you want to play outside, it's something to be slightly concerned about.
Now, before anyone claims the Switch 2 is a poorly designed console with poor heat dispersion, it's far from the only device with temperature usage restrictions. For example, the iPhone 16 has a max ambient temperature of 95 degrees — the same as the Switch 2.
The far more powerful Steam Deck has the 95-degree temperature limit.
The point is: it's something to keep in mind when using your Nintendo Switch 2, but the temperature limit isn't necessarily something wrong with the Nintendo consoles — it's a common limitation for handheld devices.
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