This one Nintendo Switch 2 dock feature could make the Steam Deck look silly

Look, I get that the Nintendo Switch 2 dock was probably the least exciting part about today’s Nintendo Direct. But, the showcase did reveal some details that have firmly piqued my interest as a Steam Deck enthusiast. Unlike most Steam Deck docks, Ninty’s new cradle comes with a fan built-in, and that could make all the difference when running demanding adventures at 4K on a big screen.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s first 4K console, and while it will be taking to the best gaming handheld stage with a 1080p 120Hz display built in, you’ll be able to hit UHD resolutions in docked mode. As someone who regularly uses these hubs, the idea of a much thinner device achieving that boggles my mind, and Ninty’s secret weapon could end up being the new integrated fan.

Thermals are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to gaming handheld performance. If you’re looking for a system that’s going to hit 4K at lofty frame rates without breaking a sweat, I wouldn’t immediately point you towards Nintendo Switch 2. That said, the fact that the console maker has designed its dock with temperature considerations at its forefront tells me it’s serious about offering up a high-spec experience, and it could end up making my Steam Deck OLED look a little silly.

One of the biggest blights to portable performance is thermal throttling, a cursed term that describes when a CPU runs slower due to toasty temperatures. It’s something gaming laptops and handhelds can suffer from, and the solution is usually adding more elaborate cooling solutions that make for chonkier designs. It’s the reason the likes of the Steam Deck OLED and Asus ROG Ally are much heftier than the Switch 2 and its 2017 sibling, but a necessary evil since it helps push frame rates higher.