iPhone 17 Pro Max overheating with hard plastic case during gaming

My 17 Pro heats up about as much as my 13 mini, just not as quickly, it takes a few extra minutes under heavy load. The new cooling system is definitely a step in the right direction, but in real-world use, it’s almost completely offset by the fact that 99% of people use a case.

There is no way to completely stop a phone from getting warn, especially when doing graphic intensive things like gaming, which taxes a battery the most. But let's define Overheating. Overheating is when an iPhone stops working and displays a thermometer, with a message saying the phone can't be used until it cools down. If you're not seeing such a graphic nor message, your phone is NOT overheating. Your phone has very sophisticated thermal protection built in. Gaming will naturally produce heat and would not be cause for concern. Even with the new vapor chamber to help dissipate heat, gaming will generate heat and you can't prevent that.

Same. It even overheats without a case when playing Pokémon Go. And the screen still dims, and it's hard to see the screen when outside. No difference from my 14 Pro Max. I am disappointed.

The screen dims where it can't be seen, and the performance of the game lags. There is no difference between my old 14 Pro max and my new 17 pro max. I am dissapointed.

Have you asked the game’s developers if or when the game will be optimized for iOS 26? If so, what did they say?

Sounds like a plan and please let me know what they say.