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Nintendo Switch 2 Gets User-Replaceable Battery in EU, Original Switch Sales End in 2027

The shift to user-replaceable batteries marks a regulatory-driven hardware redesign for Nintendo in Europe, and the end of original Switch sales there closes a decade-long product cycle for the region.

Key Facts

  • The revised Nintendo Switch 2 console has a battery capacity of 5172mAh, about 1% less than the current 5220mAh.
  • The revised Switch 2 Pro Controller battery drops 16% to 897mAh, while the GameCube Controller battery increases 5% to 525mAh.
  • Original Nintendo Switch series consoles (Switch, Switch Lite, OLED) will end sales in Europe in mid-February 2027.
  • The EU Battery Regulation requires user-replaceable batteries in portable devices from February 2027, prompting the hardware changes.
  • Nintendo plans to sell replacement battery kits for revised products at the European Nintendo Store, with prices and methods to be announced.

Reporting from 5 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Automaton, GameBusiness.jp, and 1 more.

Nintendo Switch 2 Gets User-Replaceable Battery in EU, Original Switch Sales End in 2027

Nintendo of Europe announced on July 6 that it will gradually release revised versions of the Nintendo Switch 2 and several peripherals with user-replaceable batteries, starting in summer 2026 and continuing into early 2027. The change is in response to the EU Battery Regulation, which will require portable devices sold in Europe to have user-replaceable batteries from mid-February 2027. Nintendo stated there are no functional differences between current and revised versions, though minor spec changes occur: the Switch 2 console's battery capacity drops from 5220mAh to 5172mAh (a 1% reduction) and its weight increases by about 10g. The Switch 2 Pro Controller sees a 16% battery reduction to 897mAh. Revised products include Joy-Con (some colors, summer 2026), Switch 2 (autumn 2026), Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller (winter 2026), and N64 and GameCube controllers (early 2027). Meanwhile, the original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED, Switch Pro Controller, Pokémon GO Plus+, and several retro controllers will not receive revised versions. Their sales in Europe will end in mid-February 2027. Already purchased products remain usable, and services like the eShop and Nintendo Switch Online will continue. The changes apply only to the EU region.

Nintendo of Europe's announcement on July 6 covers a wide timeline: revised Joy-Con in some colors arrive first from summer 2026, followed by the Nintendo Switch 2 console in autumn 2026, then Joy-Con 2 and the Switch 2 Pro Controller in winter 2026, and finally N64 and GameCube controllers in early 2027. The revised Switch 2 console weighs approximately 411g (10g more), while the Pro Controller actually gets lighter by about 7g despite the 16% battery reduction. Nintendo plans to sell replacement battery kits for each revised product at the European Nintendo Store, but has not yet disclosed prices or specific removal methods. Buyers cannot choose between versions; the revised model replaces the current one as stock sells out. For discontinued products, Nintendo will stop shipments to retailers and end Nintendo Store sales by mid-February 2027, but manufacturing continues through 2026 to ensure supply. The policy applies to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and other European countries where Nintendo of Europe operates. Timing may vary by retailer and country.

  • Joy-Con (revised, some colors): From summer 2026; no change in battery capacity or weight.
  • Nintendo Switch 2 (revised): Autumn 2026; battery 5172mAh (1% decrease), weight +10g.
  • Joy-Con 2 (revised): Winter 2026; included with Switch 2 from autumn, battery unchanged, weight +2g per unit.
  • Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller (revised): Winter 2026; battery 897mAh (16% decrease), weight -7g.
  • Nintendo 64 Controller (revised): Early 2027; battery unchanged, weight +1g.
  • GameCube Controller (revised): Early 2027; battery 525mAh (5% increase), weight +5g.
  • Nintendo Switch (original): Discontinued; no revised version; sales end mid-February 2027.
  • Nintendo Switch Lite: Discontinued; no revised version; sales end mid-February 2027.
  • Nintendo Switch (OLED Model): Discontinued; no revised version; sales end mid-February 2027.
  • Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (original): Discontinued; no revised version; sales end mid-February 2027.
  • Pokémon GO Plus +: Discontinued; no revised version; sales end mid-February 2027.
  • Family Computer, Super Famicom, Mega Drive controllers: Discontinued; no revised version; sales end mid-February 2027.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch

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