Google"s cloud gaming service, Stadia, went live earlier this week and now, initial issues with it have started trickling out. While the gaming service itself has a few kinks to iron out, most users are reporting overheating issues with their Chromecast Ultra.
The Google Stadia package consists of a Stadia controller and Chromecast Ultra, which needs to be plugged into a TV set. While the controller itself is fine, the Chromecast Ultra ends up getting excessively hot after a Stadia gaming session. In certain scenarios, the puck straight up shuts down due to overheating.
The issue has been echoed by many early Google Stadia adopters over at Reddit. Some claim they have only seen the Chromecast puck get extremely hot, while others say the device will shut itself down due to overheating in the middle of their gaming session.
Even before the launch of Google Stadia, the Chromecast Ultra was prone to getting extremely hot. With the additional demand that Stadia streaming places on the hardware, it is not surprising that reports of the device overheating are popping up.
The Chromecast puck does not feature any kind of fan for active cooling and is passively cooled. So, it is possible that users living in the hotter parts of the world are experiencing overheating issues while those living in the cooler regions are not.
A Google community manager posted in the Reddit thread confirming that "there is no thermal overheating issue with Chromecast Ultra." The device might get a bit warm during usage but that"s normal and should not be a cause of concern. However, the feedback in that same thread from early Stadia users suggests otherwise.