EU Drives Switch 2 Battery Change
Nintendo Prepares Replaceable Battery Switch 2 Models for Europe Due to New EU Regulation
Nintendo has confirmed that future Switch 2 models sold in Europe will include a user-replaceable battery to comply with an EU battery regulation that takes full effect in 2027. Nintendo says its compliant versions will be identified with unique model numbers and an added “OSM” code on packaging, applying to the console and accessories such as the Pro Controller and Joy-Cons, but it has not fully explained how the battery replacement process will be simplified. Reporting notes that the current Switch 2 battery-removal process is complex, and repair experts have described it as multi-step. The change is part of a broader EU push for “right to repair,” aiming to reduce electronic waste and prevent premature obsolescence when batteries degrade. Analysts and sustainability experts also flag potential trade-offs for Nintendo, including impacts to waterproofing, structural rigidity, and the device’s portability. It remains unclear whether Nintendo will keep a separate EU hardware SKU or expand the replaceable-battery design to other regions such as Japan and the United States.
Key Points
Nintendo said on its website that it is "implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the regulation," framing the EU change as active preparation rather than voluntary redesign.
The EU requirement Nintendo is responding to is specifically identified as Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1266, with Nintendo’s June 2026 confirmation tying directly to that legal text.
Reporting cited by Nikkei indicates Nintendo is preparing a specialized EU Switch 2 model that departs from the typical sealed-chassis approach—where batteries are “glued or deeply embedded” to preserve slim profiles—implying a genuine internal architecture shift for the EU SKU.
Nikkei’s reporting also suggests the EU update may be limited geographically: it said similar right-to-repair requirements could spread to Japan and the United States as consumer awareness grows, but it “hearing” that in Japan (and “presumably the U.S.”) products would keep the current specifications.
A University of Cambridge sustainability expert, Dr. Elena Marquez, said: “Modular design is a step forward for repairability, but it’s not without compromises,” adding that the key question is whether Nintendo can preserve “legendary portability” while meeting replacement requirements.
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