A heat wave is cooking much of the United States this week, bringing high temperatures to millions of people from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, and prompting health warnings across multiple states. As record-breaking temps are expected to affect North America and Europe this summer — it may be the second-hottest summer on record — be mindful of playing your Switch 2 (as well as your Steam Deck or other preferred handheld) in the heat.
As a reminder, during the sweltering summer of 2022, Nintendo of Japan warned customers that the original Switch was best used in ambient temperatures between 5 and 35 degrees Celsius (or 41 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). As temperatures climb above 95 F in many states in the U.S. and abroad, it’s worth noting that Nintendo’s guidance for Switch 2 appears to be identical.
On the company’s Japanese-language support website, Nintendo cautions that “If the surrounding temperature is high, the temperature of the main unit may also rise. Use the unit in a location between 5 and 35 C.” Nintendo warns on another support page that should your Switch 2 get too hot, it has an automatic sleep function that will shut the system down to prevent it from getting any hotter.
This could occur “if the exhaust or intake vents on the main unit are blocked or if the unit is used in a location where heat tends to build up,” like, say, the Northern Hemisphere.
Polygon has contacted Nintendo of America for updated guidance on Switch 2’s resilience during the hotter months, and will update this story when the company responds.
Ultimately, your Switch 2 will probably be fine, even in excessive heat. But if for some reason you find yourself venturing out into the sticky, sunny outside world with Nintendo console in hand, pay attention to the system’s temperature and watch out for overheating. You can finish that P Block free roam mission in Mario Kart World later, when things cool off.
