Trending Now - Nintendo's Switch 2 to Feature Replaceable Battery in Europe

WHO:

Nikkei, a Japanese news outlet, reported on Nintendo's plans.

Nintendo, a video game company

Nikkei, a Japanese news outlet

WHAT:

The updated Switch 2 model will feature lithium-ion batteries that can be safely removed.

The current version of the Switch 2 has a glued-in battery.

Nintendo plans to release an updated version of the Switch 2 with replaceable batteries.

The new version will allow users to replace both the console and Joy-Con controllers' batteries.

The current version of the Switch 2 has a glued-in battery.

WHERE:

The updated Switch 2 model will be released in the European Union.

The specifications will remain the same in Japan and presumably the United States.

WHEN:

The EU Battery Regulation has been in place since 2023, requiring products with portable batteries to allow consumers to easily remove or replace them starting on February 27th, 2027.

The new version is expected to be released “soon.”

European Union legislation requiring replaceable batteries will go into effect on February 27th, 2027.

The EU Battery Regulation has been in place since 2023.

WHY:

The change is in compliance with European Union rules that require devices to allow users to easily swap out portable batteries.

The change is in compliance with European Union rules that require devices to allow users to easily swap out portable batteries.

Similar policies could be implemented in Japan and the United States if consumer awareness of the right to repair increases.

HOW:

The updated model will allow users to replace both the console and Joy-Con controllers' batteries.

The updated model will feature lithium-ion batteries that can be safely removed.

(UPDATED March 21, 2026 13:15 UTC)

Today, Nikkei reported that Nintendo is planning to update the Switch 2 model to include removable lithium-ion batteries, addressing the current version's glued-in battery design. This change comes in response to the EU Battery Regulation, which mandates that products with portable batteries must allow for easy removal and replacement starting February 27, 2027. The new model will enable users to replace batteries in both the console and the Joy-Con controllers, enhancing user convenience.

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(UPDATED March 21, 2026 11:02 UTC)

Nintendo has announced plans to release an updated version of the Switch 2 featuring replaceable lithium-ion batteries, allowing users to easily swap out batteries for both the console and Joy-Con controllers. This new model will be launched in the European Union, in compliance with upcoming legislation requiring replaceable batteries, while the specifications will remain the same in Japan and the United States. The release is expected to happen soon, ahead of the EU Battery Regulation taking effect on February 27, 2027.