Nintendo is developing an updated Switch 2 model with a removable battery, according to a new report.
The revised Switch 2 console will also come with fresh versions of its Joy-Con 2 controllers, which allow users to remove and replace each of their lithium-ion batteries.
According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, this new Nintendo Switch 2 model will debut first in Europe, in accordance with the European Union’s “right to repair” legislation that requires electronics allow for easy battery replacement.
The regulation was originally introduced by the EU back in 2023, though companies have had until February 2027 to prepare for the changes. The idea behind it is to give consumers the ability to keep their devices going longer — with the ability to replace old or degraded batteries rather than having to fork out for an all-new product or premium repair.
As Nikkei notes, Nintendo is simply the latest company to align its products with the legislation, after PlayStation updated its DualSense PS5 controllers last year to allow easier access to their batteries, while Apple has modified the design of its newer iPhones to make battery replacement more straightforward.
For now, it’s expected that this updated Switch 2 model will only be available in Europe — though Nintendo is reportedly keeping its options open should other countries progress their own, similar regulations in future.
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Nintendo already sells a specific Japanese language-only version of Switch 2 in its homeland, which is priced cheaper in comparison to the console’s cost overseas. However, while the console is region-locked to only play Japanese games and access the Japanese version of the eShop, there console is otherwise identical in terms of its form factor.
Last month, the company admitted that Switch 2 hardware sales outside Japan had been weaker than expected towards the end of 2025. Speaking to shareholders, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that “overseas sales were slightly weaker than our expectations,” something that had previously been reported and discussed with IGN by analysts, though not stated out loud by the company itself.
It’s been a busy time for Nintendo, which has also recently sued the U.S. government over “unlawful” tariffs, demanding a refund with interest. (The legal action has since been paused while the Supreme Court passes judgment on a similar case.) Finally, earlier this week, Nintendo released its latest Switch 2 system software update, which included a major performance enhancing addition: the ability to play most Switch 1 games with boosted performance while using the console as a handheld, with performance akin to playing with the console docked.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
