EU Regulations Force Nintendo to Add User-Replaceable Batteries to the Switch 2
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Thanks to new EU consumer laws and the Right to Repair directive, Nintendo is updating the Switch 2 and Joy-Con design in Europe to feature user-replaceable batteries by 2027.
Regulation is finally starting to catch up to modern hardware, and players are reaping the benefits. According to reports from Nikkei and covered by Eurogamer, Nintendo is updating the design of the Switch 2 in Europe to feature a user-replaceable battery. This hardware shift is a direct response to the European Union's Right to Repair directive and the strict European Battery Regulation, which mandates that portable consumer tech must allow safe battery swaps by 2027. Under the upcoming design, European players will be able to swap out tired batteries in both the console and the Joy-Con controllers without having to mail their hardware away or buy a brand-new system.
Battery life has been a persistent point of community frustration since the Switch 2 launched. Heavy portable sessions for games like Mario Kart World tend to drain the system rather quickly, making the hardware's longevity a frequent topic on creator streams and community boards. While Nintendo is currently rolling out this change to comply with European laws, reports suggest that similar models could eventually reach the US and Japan if regional consumer protection regulations catch up. It is a major win for hardware longevity, cutting down on electronic waste and saving players from premature upgrades.
This physical hardware revision also lands alongside recent software updates for the ecosystem, including system software Version 22.0.0. That update introduced quality-of-life additions alongside Handheld Mode Boost, which helps older titles run much better on the newer platform architecture. You can read the original reporting over at Eurogamer.
Tags: Nintendo Switch 2, Hardware, EU Regulation, Gaming News, Right to Repair
Original article: Eurogamer