The Nintendo Switch Console: A Warning Against Blowing into Cartridge Slots
In a nostalgic nod to the golden era of gaming, the official Nintendo customer service Twitter account is cautioning users against the age-old practice of blowing into their Switch console to fix any issues. Specifically, they advise against using saliva to clear out dust from the cartridge slot.
In a tweet, Nintendo emphasizes that the slot where users insert their Switch game contains a terminal used to read the game. They strongly discourage cleaning the area with a cotton swab or inserting a damaged cartridge, as it may corrupt the terminal. A diagram accompanies this warning.
ゲームカードスロットの中には、ゲームカードを読み込む端子があります。
ここを綿棒などで掃除したり、端子部分が壊れたゲームカードを差し込んだりすると、端子部分に引っかかって壊れてしまうことがあります。ゲームカードスロットの中は触らないであげてください. pic.twitter.com/XsQhIeNsYN
— 任天堂サポート (@nintendo_cs) June 29, 2023
Nintendo then recommends using a vacuum cleaner to “suck out” any dust in the slot instead of blowing into it, citing similar reasons (and an avoidance of saliva).
Blowing into Game Consoles: A Time-Honored Tradition
Blowing into game consoles or their cartridges has been a long-standing practice for many of us. While potentially detrimental to the terminals, millions of gamers have been guilty of this act and gotten away with it.
This tradition dates back to the NES and SNES days, evoking nostalgia in older gamers for decades. Some of us, now adulting with jobs and responsibilities, remember removing a malfunctioning game from the console, applying a gaming mouth-to-mouth by blowing into the cartridge, and reinserting it into the system. Surprisingly, it often worked. But it really shouldn’t have.
It’s noteworthy that Nintendo is addressing this issue now, considering the longevity of its hybrid console. Perhaps there has been a surge of people attempting to blow dust out of their aging machines. Regardless, it seems that the practice of tasting Switch cartridges has finally come to an end, at least.
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