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I whack out my Nintendo Switch 2 come rain or shine, but the incoming heat wave that's rumored to fall this Memorial Day has got me more worried than usual.
Last year, I resorted to picking up a USB-C-powered fan for £4.99 (Amazon) / $6.49 (Amazon) to prevent my face melting while gaming outside, and the little Switch 2 accessory ended up being my saviour of the summer. I'm pale and Scottish, and so I still had to be lathered up in factor 50 sun-screen. But thanks to the little cheap, compact add-on, I didn't waste away, and won't be again as I make sure it's plopped in the top port of my Ninty machine this May 25.
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Whenever I see any impression of a blue sky (which can be a bit of an unfortunate rarity here in Scotland), I instinctively just want to crack out an RPG and pretend I've been whisked away to some sunny, fantastical fictional world. Right now, it's The Adventures of Elliot demo that I have my heart set on digging out today (Memorial Day), and I'm prepared to fight back against the heat with my USB-C fan in tow.
These little accessories are really neat, as they don't require any additional power and can be fueled entirely by the USB-C port sitting at the top (or bottom) of your handheld. Before you ask, I have tried neck fans while gaming outside, but these can very easily get caught in your hair. While trying to sit back in my mum's garden and chill with my handheld, I had some mishaps last year that left me with a couple of bald spots or two, and I've not been able to use one ever since.
The USB-C fan, when plugged into the Switch 2, sits far enough away from my face that hair catching isn't really an issue. Sure, it's not as powerful as neck fans I've tried, but these tiny things can pack some surprising cooling power. Last July, I used mine practically every day, and I'm feeling relaxed just recalling the memory of the chilled air circulating my face as I mastered the then-new courses from Mario Kart World. Big industrial fans and Air Con is always going to be better, but these little fans are still impressive, especially given how cheap they are.
Years previous, I'd take my older Switch OLED outside only to be greeted by the uncomfortable sight of sweat dribbling off my face in the reflection of the black-lit Switch 2 display. It wasn't nice, but the cooling air of this little fan makes that unsightly situation a thing of the past.
There is one issue that I do need to let you know about - battery life. The Switch 2 already had a notoriously meh battery, and anything feeding off the handheld is going to drain that even further. If you can somehow ensure the bottom of your Switch is attached to a charger, this will help prolong the lovely cooling sensation.
As it's originally intended for smartphones, you can also plug it into the USB-C port of your cell once your Switch 2 battery calls it quits. And in fact, I recommend this as you shouldn't really be playing your pricey Ninty tech out in the hot sun for too long anyway.
As you're likely seeing this on Memorial Day, ordering this accessory now will likely mean it won't arrive until later. Yet I recommend you ensure you have one to help cope with the months of overbearing summer sun ahead. And while you're at it, maybe stock up on a couple more as your friends might help 'borrowing' your USB-C fan if they're anything like mine.
- View all USB-C fans at Amazon
Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch controllers, the best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras if you're on the hunt for the best accessories for gaming this summer.
