Nintendo is set to launch a new Switch 2 model in Europe that will allow owners to replace the battery.
As reported by Nikkei (thanks, CoverGeek), the, er, switch comes as the company works to meet the European Union’s Right to Repair directive, as well as the European Battery Regulation, which insists rechargeable battery-powered devices in consumer products must permit batteries to be replaced by 2027.
This means both Switch consoles and Joy-Con controllers will need to enable players to safely remove and replace problematic batteries without resorting to sending them away for repair or replacing the device completely. It’s not yet clear when the new model will be available.
Nikkei suggests a similar change could be implemented in the US and Japan, but only if consumer protection laws change.
Players have been lamenting the Switch 2’s battery life for some time now. Back in June 2025, when the new model was released, Tom wrote: “I’ve been using the Switch 2 for about a week and a half, playing it for multiple hours every day. Aside from the fact that I’ve had a lot of fun with Mario Kart World and Fast Fusion, my main take away from that time is that I wish the battery lasted longer.”
Earlier this week, Nintendo released a new update for both the Switch 2 and Switch, bringing the system software up to Version 22.0.0. Along with the usual stability fixes, language additions, UI improvements in the Nintendo eShop, and so on, there’s also a significant feature that’s going to make a lot of your older games run better on the Switch 2’s fancy new hardware: Handheld Mode Boost.
