Nintendo has officially confirmed it's developing hardware with replaceable batteries, driven by new EU regulations targeting electronic waste. The announcement appeared on Nintendo's official website, on a page dedicated to EU directive compliance.
No specific products are named in the documentation, but the implication is straightforward — anything with a battery inside, meaning Switch, Switch 2, and Pro Controllers, almost certainly falls under this. Starting February 2027, new Nintendo hardware sold in Europe should allow users to swap out batteries themselves. Exactly how you'd source a replacement battery isn't spelled out yet.
The EU regulation exists to stop people from binning entire devices just because the battery died. Nintendo's compliance page also lists alignment with several other EU directives covering packaging waste, hazardous materials restrictions, radio equipment, low voltage requirements, and ecodesign.
In practical terms, a dead Switch battery in a couple of years shouldn't mean buying a whole new console — just a replacement cell and a screwdriver.
Sources (1)
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