The Switch 2 hasn’t even been on the market for a month, but it’s already showing signs of a worrying manufacturing problem. It’s a problem with portable machines that never goes away.

In recent days, we’re already seeing the first signs of a problem worth keeping an eye on. On Reddit, a user reported that his brand-new Switch 2 had an abnormally bulging back. After contacting Nintendo, he was told it appeared to be a swollen battery and that the company would investigate.

He’s not alone: according to Automaton, another user has publicly shared the same issue on X. Swollen batteries are among the most serious problems for portable devices, and both the Steam Deck and original Switch have had their share of cases since launch. While best practice is to avoid exposing the console to extreme temperatures and to regularly check unused devices, a swollen battery out of the box points to a factory defect that can’t be prevented by the user.

Nintendo’s advice in these cases is always the same: turn off the device, store it in the box, and return it as soon as possible, as it could explode and pose a fire hazard. The upside is that these cases are easy to spot—any bulge or deformation on the back is a giveaway. “Check the back of your consoles,” the user warned.

It’s not just consoles you need to watch: the original Switch also had this problem with joycons, especially those that were set aside for drift issues and then developed strange bulges after being stored unused for long periods.

Source: 3djuegos