The Nintendo Switch 2 has been on the market since June 5, 2025 – and is doing brilliantly. Over 17 million units sold in just under six months speak for themselves. However, it is already becoming apparent that Europe will be getting its own, revised version of the console. The reason: strict EU laws on reparability and sustainability.
EU forces Nintendo to revise Switch 2
According to a report in the Japanese business magazine Nikkei Asia, referred to by Golem and Netzwelt among others, Nintendo is working on an adapted version of the Switch 2 specifically for the European market. The main focus is on the battery: in future, it should be much easier to replace than in the current model. The same applies to the Joy-Con 2 controllers, whose batteries are also to become more accessible.
Several EU regulations have prompted these changes:
- Right to Repair Directive: The directive passed by the European Parliament in April 2024 obliges manufacturers to make devices more repair-friendly. In Germany, the corresponding law is due to come into force in summer 2026.
- EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542): From the beginning of 2027, new devices may only be sold if their batteries are easily replaceable.
- Ecodesign Regulation: Among other things, it stipulates that products must be more durable, reusable and recyclable – and that unnecessary adhesives may no longer be used.
What is to change in concrete terms
The planned EU version of the Switch 2 should score points above all in terms of power supply: Both the battery of the console itself and the batteries of the Joy-Con 2 should be able to be changed without much effort. Whether the housing needs to be opened for this or whether Nintendo is planning a user-accessible solution remains to be seen.
Other manufacturers have already made similar adaptations for the EU market. Sony, for example, updated the PS5’s DualSense controller, and Apple adapted the iPhone design to make it easier to replace the battery. Nintendo is thus following a trend that the electronics industry in Europe simply cannot escape.
Only for Europe – at least for the time being
It is no coincidence that Nintendo is initially implementing these changes exclusively for Europe. According to Nikkei, the company is only planning to introduce the revised model in other regions once comparable legal requirements have been introduced there. In Japan and the USA, there are isolated approaches to the right to repair, but nothing comparable to the EU framework.
Currently, replacing the battery of a Switch 2 – console or controller – requires an official service request to Nintendo. This is set to change soon for EU customers.
When is the EU version coming?
There is no specific release date yet. As the Switch 2 was released in June 2025 and Nintendo only released a revised version with an improved battery for the first Switch in 2019 – almost two years after the launch – a release of the EU version around 2027 seems realistic. This would also coincide well with the EU Battery Regulation coming into force.
It is unclear whether the new EU version will be more expensive than the current model. Nintendo has not yet commented on this.
Conclusion: Nintendo Switch 2 EU edition benefits sustainability
The planned Nintendo Switch 2 for Europe is not a voluntary step, but a reaction to clear legal requirements. For users, however, this means a real improvement: if you want to replace your battery at some point, you no longer have to go to the service center. This increases the service life of the console and is easier on the wallet in the long term. It remains to be seen when exactly the EU version will be released and how much it will cost.
You can find out more about the Nintendo Switch 2 in our official introduction to the console and in the article on the free graphics upgrades for Switch games. If you already own the console and are struggling with HDMI problems, you can find possible solutions here.
Battery cover I should imagine.