Nintendo to sell a Switch 2 model with a user-replaceable battery in the EU

Nintendo will offer a version of the Switch 2 with an easily replaceable battery in the European Union, according to a report from Nikkei. The change is intended to comply with the EU’s 2023 regulation that requires handheld consoles to feature replaceable batteries by 2027.

Nikkei says Nintendo plans to alter the Switch 2’s specifications so buyers can swap the battery without specialist tools. The same version could be offered in Japan and the United States if right-to-repair awareness grows in those markets, the report added. Nintendo has not published an official statement about the hardware change, so consumers should wait for formal confirmation.

The Switch 2 has already received recent firmware work, including a major update that introduced a new Handheld Mode Boost feature to improve performance for handheld play. That software work sits alongside the hardware discussion as Nintendo prepares to keep the console on sale through the rest of the decade.

The EU regulation could force Nintendo to stop selling the original Switch in the region by 2027 unless a replaceable-battery version is made available, per the report. Nintendo’s move follows broader European rules aimed at making consumer electronics less wasteful and easier to repair.

For context, Switch 2 has seen a strong early reception since launch, as Nintendo reported rapid sell-through in the console’s first months, and early sales figures were notable across regions. For more on Switch 2’s commercial performance. You can see the console sales report covering its early sold-in numbers.

If Nintendo follows through, the change would align the Switch 2 with the EU’s repairability rules while giving buyers a clear way to replace a worn battery without returning the console to the factory.

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