The valve warns when operating at about 40°C

For only €419, you can play PC games from the Steam library using the portable Steam Deck for games. Manufacturer Valve assumes that “hardware can be sold in the millions” and that the project is being funded by digital game sales on Steam. Not all PC games available on Steam will work on the mobile device, as mentioned earlier. Valve now warns against using Steam Deck outdoors. The background is the current heat wave in Europe.

Steam Deck cooling has reached its limits

The steam surface should only be used at ambient temperatures between 0°C and a maximum of 35°C. Some days, the temperature is currently over 40 degrees Celsius, so you should not play Steam Deck outdoors. Temperatures of up to 100°C can sometimes be reached inside the mobile device. At 105 degrees, there is an emergency shutdown and nothing works anymore. If it gets to over 35°C outside, it gets too warm inside the Steam Deck, for the AMD APU to cool enough.

In addition to the Steam Deck, there are many other tech devices that are also struggling with the current temperatures. Nintendo has issued a corresponding warning to all Nintendo Switch owners. According to the Japanese manufacturer, the mobile device should only be used between 5 and 35 ° C. At other temperatures, the switch goes into sleep mode to protect the device from any damage. Cooling issues were also the cause of Google Cloud and Oracle outages.

Also worth reading: Major heat waves: Google and Oracle data centers struggle with temperatures

Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch & Co. Play Warnings Set:

• Manufacturer Valve warns against using the Steam Deck outside in current summer temperatures.
• Steam surface should only be used at ambient temperatures between 0°C and a maximum of 35°C, the maximum temperature indoors being 104°C. Otherwise there will be an emergency shutdown and you will not be able to play.
• In addition to the Steam Deck, there are many other tech devices that are also struggling with the current temperatures. The use warning also applies to the Nintendo Switch at temperatures above 35°C.

source: Twitter