Nintendo Switch 2 could soon appear in Europe with a replaceable battery

Nintendo is reportedly working on a new version of the Switch 2 to comply with EU regulations requiring easily replaceable batteries from 2027.

The Switch 2 impresses with its slim design. However, a replaceable battery could slightly alter it.

(Image: Erman Gunes / Shutterstock.com)

Mar 23, 2026 at 9:26 pm CET

2 min. read

By

Josef Erl

Nintendo is apparently developing a variant of the Switch 2 with a battery that users can remove themselves. This would reportedly affect not only the console itself but also the Joy-Con 2 controllers, whose lithium-ion batteries are also to be accessible without special tools in the future.

The business newspaper Nikkei Asia reports on this. Nintendo has not yet made an official statement. A request from heise online has also remained unanswered so far.

“Right to Repair” will be mandatory from 2027

The reasons for the possible device revision lie in the EU regulation on the “Right to Repair“ and the Battery Regulation, which will come into force in February 2027, which aims to extend the lifespan of electronics and prevent functional devices from ending up in the trash due to weak batteries. The Battery Regulation stipulates that devices such as robot vacuums, headphones, or game consoles must be designed so that the integrated energy storage can be easily removed and replaced throughout the product's entire lifespan.

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So far, the Switch 2 has a permanently installed 5220 mAh battery, centrally positioned in the device and difficult for laypeople to replace. With a replaceable battery, the slim design of the handheld could change slightly, as the battery must be easily accessible and a corresponding compartment would be added. For smooth implementation, higher-quality and as wear-resistant parts as possible are also necessary, which in turn could be reflected in a price increase for the Switch 2, which is already expected due to the memory crisis.

According to Nikkei, the new Switch 2 version is initially to be released in Europe to meet legal requirements. There are currently no confirmed plans for other markets. However, Nintendo could keep open the option of making similar adjustments in Japan or the USA, where more and more states are introducing similar regulations.

Videos by heise

In Germany, the EU regulation on the “Right to Repair” is to be implemented into national law by July 31st, in compliance with the deadline. However, consumer advocates are calling for improvements to the draft law. Among other things, the legal maximum delivery time for spare parts and the intended warranty period are not in the interest of consumers.

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