Nintendo’s Switch 2 might get an early redesign thanks to EU repair laws

The EU’s “right to repair” rules will require consumer electronics sold in the region to feature easily replaceable batteries by 2027, and that includes gaming consoles. For Nintendo, that likely means reworking the Switch 2’s current design, which, like the original Switch, uses a built-in battery that’s not easily swappable by non-professionals.

The reported revision isn’t just limited to the console itself either. The updated model is also expected to extend this replaceable battery approach to its Joy-Con controllers, which actually makes sense.

What’s less clear though, is whether this revised model will remain a Europe-only variant. Historically, Nintendo doesn’t maintain different hardware SKUs across regions, but similar regulatory pressure has already forced broader industry changes – USB-C on iPhones being the obvious example.

Still, Nintendo being nudged into modern repair standards and having a replaceable battery aren’t a bad thing, especially for a handheld that’s expected to stick around for years.