Nintendo has announced that, in response to new EU battery regulations set to take effect in mid-February 2027, certain Nintendo Switch series products in Europe will be revised starting in summer 2026 to feature user-replaceable batteries. The new Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to launch in Europe this autumn with these changes.
The upcoming regulation mandates that electronic devices must allow users to replace batteries themselves. This aims to enhance repairability and extend product lifespan, preventing players from having to buy entirely new controllers or send products back to Nintendo for repair simply due to battery degradation. Nintendo stated that the revised products will not differ functionally from current models but will feature adjusted battery and body designs depending on the product type.
The first product to be updated will be the original Switch Joy-Con, with new versions expected to roll out in Europe starting in summer 2026. These will maintain the same battery capacity and weight. For the European Switch 2 console, launching this autumn, both the main unit and its accompanying Joy-Con 2 controllers will incorporate user-replaceable batteries. The battery capacity will be approximately 1% smaller than current versions, and the console's weight with controllers attached will increase from 534 grams to 548 grams. Without controllers, the weight will go from 401 grams to 411 grams.
Furthermore, standalone Switch 2 Joy-Cons sold from this winter onward will also adopt the user-replaceable battery design. The new Switch 2 Pro Controller will similarly be adjusted, featuring a 16% smaller battery capacity but a 7-gram reduction in overall weight. Retro controllers, including the N64 and GameCube controllers, are also slated for revision with their early 2027 release, seeing slight weight increases of 1 gram and 5 grams, respectively.
Notably, Nintendo will not release a new version of the original Switch console in Europe; instead, this older model will be phased out of the local market. Battery replacement kits for all products will be sold through the European Nintendo Store.
via： IGN