Three Months After the Release of Nintendo Switch 2: Overheating and Performance Issues Highlighting Its Limitations and Challenges

1. Summary of Three Months: Strong Sales, Clear Challenges

Switch 2 was released on June 5, 2025 (North America $449.99), and had a strong start from its first month of sales. In the US market, it surpassed 2 million units in two months, with some reports indicating a **+75% increase compared to its predecessor.NintendoTechRadar

On the demand side, the combination of "hybrid device × Nintendo IP" remains strong. However, in Japan and Asia, where the high summer temperatures hit directly, warnings about overheating and user reports became visible on social media and in the media. Additionally, issues such as battery life and the nature of storage media (Game-Key Card)** have raised more situations where the alignment of design philosophy and operational realities is questioned.9to5ToysTechRadarGamesRadar+

2. What's "New and Strong": Key Points of Specifications and Design

Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch/1080p/up to 120Hz (HDR/VRR) LCD, 4K output support (dock), NVIDIA custom SoC supporting DLSS/Ray Tracing, 12GB memory, and 256GB built-in, among other enhancements. In terms of UI/design, features like magnetic attachment for Joy-Con 2, "mouse mode," and improved kickstand rigidity have also been topics of discussion.The VergeNVIDIA Blog
However, the dedication to microSD Express (non-compatible with the previous UHS-I) is a factor increasing expansion costs, with stock shortages and high prices noted immediately after release.NintendoGamesRadar+TechRadar

3. Overheating Issues: What Happened and What We Learned

In early August 2025, Nintendo's support notice drew attention again, emphasizing the operating temperature range of 5–35°C. In Japan, where the summer heat is intense, symptoms believed to be malfunctions and forced sleep due to high temperatures were frequently shared.9to5ToysHotHardwareNew Game Network
Community reports particularly highlight heat generation when using the dock. Comments such as "the casing is very warm," "the fan is loud," and "the dock itself is hot" are continuously posted, suggesting that the dock's heat dissipation capacity and room temperature are likely triggers.HotHardware

Practical Measures:

• Maintain room temperature below 28°C, and ensure that the airflow around the dock is not blocked (at least 5cm clearance at the back).

• Assume that high-load titles are more likely to increase temperature in **dock (high clock)** mode than in **handheld (low clock)** mode, and ensure ventilation.

• Since playing while charging increases heat generation, using a cycle of full charge → unplug and play is also effective.Tom's Hardware

• Adhere to the official temperature guidelines (5–35°C).9to5Toys

4. Performance "Ceiling": Reality Compared to PS5/Series S

Switch 2 can enhance "appearance" with DLSS and 4K output, but its native performance does not match that of dedicated home consoles. Reports from measurements and tests indicate that in Cyberpunk 2077, the basic modes are quality 30fps/performance 40fps, with cases reported where it drops to 20–30fps in heavy scenes of the expansion DLC "Phantom Liberty."GoNintendoTechRadar

In comparison, the Xbox Series S can operate at 60fps, highlighting a "class difference," and Switch 2 is affected by CPU/power constraints.Pure Xbox

At the same time, measurements indicate that power consumption is extremely low (around 17–19W for the dock), suggesting a design philosophy where efficiency comes at the cost of an absolute performance ceiling.Tom's Hardware

5. Battery, Power Consumption, and Quietness

Battery life is highly dependent on the title, but voices widely shared right after release indicate it is around 2 hours on average. The manufacturer's estimate is approximately 2 to 6.5 hours, with shorter durations for heavy titles or 120Hz operation.TechRadarNintendo Life
Power consumption is measured at around 11–12W in handheld mode and 17–19W in docked mode, with fan noise increasing according to load. Playing in handheld mode while charging reaches 20–21W, with relatively increased heat generation.Tom's Hardware

6. Storage and the "Game-Key Card" Debate

The built-in 256GB can be filled with just a few AAA titles. Estimates suggest the available space is about 249GB, making microSD Express expansion practically necessary, but prices remain high, such as over $200 for 1TB.My Nintendo NewsGamesRadar+
Furthermore, the **"Game-Key Card"** introduced with the Switch 2 generation (physical box but essentially a download key) sparked significant debate, as the National Diet Library declared it unacceptable for preservation (archiving) purposes. The manufacturer is also conducting investigations and soliciting opinions, acknowledging user backlash.GamesRadar++1LOS40

7. Joy-Con 2 and Surroundings: Improvements and Unresolved Issues

Joy-Con 2 has added new features such as magnetic attachment and mouse mode, with hints of improved durability, but early reports and concerns about stick issues (including the so-called drift) persist as "not zero."ResetEraPolygon
Individually, symptoms other than drift, such as recognition failures in physical connections, are also observed, requiring differentiation between batch/individual differences.Notebookcheck##HTML_TAG_546