Nintendo is Trading Older Consoles for Greener Revisions in Europe
After years of faithful service, Nintendo is preparing for an evolution in its European lineup, signaling a significant shift toward sustainability and user-centric design. Starting in mid-February 2027, the original line of Nintendo Switch consoles—including the Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED models—will no longer be sold to retailers or through the Nintendo Store in Europe.
This transition is rooted in evolving European battery regulations, which mandate user-replaceable batteries in electronic devices. This move aligns Nintendo with new environmental standards while addressing the practical needs of consumers regarding device longevity and repairability.
But the story doesn’t end there. As part of this broader effort, Nintendo is also introducing revisions to select products in the coming months that will feature these new, user-replaceable battery designs. This update focuses on giving fans access to modern technology without compromising performance or experience.
The changes are rolling out across several key hardware components. For instance, future versions of popular items like the Switch 2 consoles, Joy-Cons, and Pro Controllers will be replaced with updated models that incorporate these new battery standards.
These revisions are designed to be seamless, maintaining full functionality regardless of the change in design. While the aesthetic is updated for modern compliance, performance remains firmly intact.
Even when looking closely at the technical specifics, the updates are incremental. The Switch 2 itself will feature a battery that is slightly smaller, clocking in at less than one percent reduction compared to previous versions, while the console structure grows just a little heavier by ten grams.
The most noticeable change appears in portable gaming accessories. For example, the battery in the Switch 2 Pro Controller will see a notable reduction, shrinking from 1070mAh down to 897mAh—a decrease of approximately 16 percent. These changes underscore Nintendo’s commitment to making hardware more sustainable and repairable for the next generation of gamers.
Credit: Dark Horizons
