Nintendo Reportedly Developing Switch 2 Revision With Removable Battery for Europe

Nintendo has been producing an updated Switch 2 model with user-replaceable lithium-ion batteries, according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, with the revision targeting Europe first to meet an EU regulatory deadline that takes effect in February 2027.

The change runs deeper than the console itself. The revised hardware also includes updated Joy-Con 2 controllers whose batteries can be individually removed and replaced, according to reporting by IGN's Tom Phillips. The current Switch 2 ships with a glued-in battery, making any swap a professional repair job rather than something an owner can handle at home.

Nintendo framed the revision in environmental terms. Nikkei quoted the company's rationale directly: "Nintendo is aligning its 'right to repair' policy with the Nintendo Switch 2 game console to reduce its environmental impact. First, in accordance with European Union legislation, the company will modify the console's specifications to allow consumers to easily replace the battery."

The EU Battery Regulation, introduced in 2023, gives manufacturers until February 2027 to ensure portable devices allow straightforward battery replacement. Nintendo is not alone in making the adjustment. PlayStation updated its DualSense PS5 controllers to allow easier battery access, and Apple redesigned newer iPhones to simplify battery replacement, both changes made in response to the same regulatory pressure.

For employees and partners at Nintendo's European operations, the revision represents a concrete product pipeline item, though Nikkei's report and secondary coverage from IGN, The Verge, Shacknews, and Wccftech all note that no official confirmation has come from Nintendo. The Verge reported that Nintendo did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

In Japan and the United States, the current Switch 2 specifications are expected to remain unchanged for now. Nikkei noted that Nintendo "may also implement similar policies in Japan and the United States if consumer awareness of the right to repair increases," signaling that the company is treating the revision as a compliance exercise first and a broader product decision second.

What remains unknown is whether the European revision will include any hardware changes beyond battery access. Wccftech noted that an alleged OLED model midframe prototype surfaced online shortly after the Switch 2's worldwide launch, but that reported revision focused on display quality rather than repairability, and no connection between the two developments has been established in any of the current reporting.

The February 2027 compliance window gives Nintendo roughly eleven months to complete production and distribution of the revised model across EU markets, a timeline that the word "soon" in Nikkei's original report appears to acknowledge.