Overview
- Nintendo confirmed Europe-only redesigned hardware that lets users swap batteries, starting with new Joy-Con controllers this summer and the Nintendo Switch 2 arriving in shops in the autumn.
- The company will stop shipping existing Switch models to European retail from February 2027, including the Switch, Switch Lite, OLED model and the Switch Pro Controller.
- Hardware changes include modest trade-offs: the Switch 2 is about 10 grams heavier with roughly 1% lower battery capacity, Joy-Con 2 are marginally heavier with the same runtime, and the Pro Controller is lighter but has about 16% less battery life.
- Nintendo said it will sell official battery-replacement kits through the Nintendo Store and has removed some retro-branded controllers from the European store catalog as part of the transition.
- The moves are driven by EU ecodesign and battery rules and currently apply only to Europe, leaving availability and timing for the United States, Japan and other markets unspecified; the changes could raise demand for spare parts, affect used-console supply, and shift repair choices for European owners.