It’s Too Hot To Play Video Games

Everybody I do know is struggling in some methods with the continuing warmth led to by summer season. Some are unable to run their AC unit on account of electrical points and should play video games in sweaty rooms. Others are getting cooked by large PCs blasting out scorching air as they play the newest AAA online game. Personally, I’ve been spending increasingly more time in my cool basement to flee the devilish temperatures outdoors and luxuriate in some gaming with out feeling like I’m in an oven. As soon as once more, it’s a scorching one, and it sucks.

Replace: 7/2/2026: This story was initially revealed on August 2, 2021. It was later up to date in July 2022 to include European warmth waves and different information. It was up to date once more in 2025 so as to add details about warmth waves in Alaska and NYC. Its intro has now been rewritten and the publish up to date with the newest warmth waves hitting each the US and Europe. 

Past summers saw record temperatures across the United States, even in places that have historically avoided such outrageous heat. And these heat waves continue to hammer millions of folks, leading to fatalities. In 2022, Europe suffered through its worst heat wave in history, setting new and harmful temperature information. The recent climate in 2022 was so unhealthy that Google and other companies struggled to keep servers online as they had been failing because of the intense warmth. In the meantime, Valve and Nintendo warned people that the Steam Deck and Switch might not work properly in these excessive circumstances. In 2025, parts of Alaska were put under a heat advisory warning for the first time in history. New York City is setting heat records, too, with some faculties closing because of the lethal excessive temperatures. On June 23, NYC was put under an “Extreme Heat Warning,” the highest heat advisory level. And now in 2026, a brand new large heatwave has unleashed impossibly hot temperatures in parts of Europe which have by no means seen such warmth earlier than. People have died, including a 13-year-old boy, because of this heatwave. In the meantime, within the US, a lethal heatwave is sweeping a lot of the nation. Washington, D.C. could see the temperature hit 103 degrees on Friday, and in lots of locations it received’t dip beneath 80 over the weekend, even at evening.

All of that is nearly actually a symptom of the continuing effects of global warming, which is throwing our whole planet into weather-related chaos and destruction. To place it one other manner: Shit is unhealthy.

I say all this to make it clear that the unimaginable warmth we’re seeing proper now’s critical and is hurting and killing folks. Clearly, the truth that I or others can’t play video video games comfortably could be very far down on the listing of issues brought on by international warming. However it’s nonetheless annoying, and speaking to others who’re experiencing this warmth, it’s clear I’m not alone.

I stay in Kansas, the place now we have fortunately been capable of keep away from a number of the greater temperatures seen in locations like Seattle, NYC, and the UK. Even nonetheless, on this warmth, I can’t play VR video games comfortably, given how sweaty and uncomfortable the headset shortly turns into. If you consider that many good VR games ask you to face, transfer round and use movement controls, the prospect turns into even much less interesting. It’s a simple technique to overheat on hotter days like these. It’s a disgrace as a result of I do like enjoying VR games like Beat Saber; I simply can’t do it whereas temperatures hover round or over 100.

It’s not simply VR that feels uncomfortable to play throughout these abnormally blistering instances. Extra graphically spectacular video games on my PC trigger further warmth to construct up in my tiny house workplace. Consoles additionally spit out a surprising quantity of scorching air if you play video games that push the {hardware}. The Xbox Collection X, specifically, could be very efficient at expelling burning scorching air at a fast fee. This is excellent for the console, in fact. Nevertheless it additionally signifies that I’ve a mini-jet engine cooking me alive. Not less than it’s quiet whereas I soften.

I spoke to some buddies who’re experiencing related points. A few of them are avoiding sure video games on particular platforms proper now as a result of it’s too rattling scorching, and since operating your AC all day is pricey and unhealthy for the surroundings. I personally attempt to restrict how usually I run our house’s AC system, and if I can avoid wasting cash and electrical energy by skipping some periods of Marvel Rivals, that looks like an excellent trade-off.

And certain, as these people on that once-popular present usually mentioned, “Winter is coming.” Effectively, first fall, then winter. The purpose is: Cooler and colder days are usually not too far-off. However as these excessive shifts in climate and local weather change into extra widespread and extra excessive yearly, I count on the summer season months to change into a fair worse time to make use of electronics that produce tons of warmth.

In fact, as issues worsen, with the ability to play video games comfortably will in all probability change into one in every of my decrease priorities behind issues like discovering water, staying cool, and combating off roving bandits looking down any sources they will discover. Nonetheless, I’ll miss enjoying video video games.