Nintendo is set to launch a revised version of the Switch 2 in the European Union, allowing users to replace their own batteries, as reported by Nikkei. The current iteration of the Switch 2 features a fixed battery, but Nintendo is making this change to align with upcoming EU regulations that mandate user-replaceable portable batteries by February 2027.
The updated Switch 2 model, expected to debut soon, will enable users to replace batteries in both the console and Joy-Cons. While there will be no changes to the console’s specifications in Japan, this move in the EU aims to enhance user convenience and comply with regulatory standards. Nintendo has not provided a comment to The Verge regarding this development.
If the revised Switch 2 version is limited to the EU, it would not be unprecedented, as seen with FujiFilm’s Instax Mini Link 3, which offers a user-replaceable battery solely in Europe. The tech industry’s shift towards repairable devices, possibly influenced by right-to-repair laws, emphasizes the importance of longevity and ease of maintenance for consumer electronics like game consoles.
Source: The Verge