# Think twice before putting your gaming console inside a cabinet

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/think-twice-before-putting-your-gaming-console-inside-a-cabinet/
- Published: 2026-11-02T18:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T18:28:35+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2302571/think-twice-before-putting-gaming-console-inside-cabinet/
- Topics: Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Closed cabinets can trap heat around consoles.
- A PS5 can use up to 220 watts while gaming.
- Leave room for airflow and keep vents clear.

## Summary

Putting a modern gaming console in a closed entertainment cabinet can trap heat and dust, potentially reducing performance or shortening the system’s lifespan. Consoles use far more power than typical Blu-ray players, so they need clear airflow to keep their components cool.

A PlayStation 5 can draw up to 220 watts while gaming, similar to an Xbox Series X, compared with up to 32 watts for a Panasonic UB820 Blu-ray player. Sony recommends about 10 centimetres of clearance around a PlayStation, while Microsoft advises 10 to 15 centimetres around an Xbox; Nintendo says to keep the Switch 2 in an open, ventilated area. Keeping vents uncovered, positioning the console with room to breathe and dusting it regularly can help.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.