Nintendo has officially confirmed that a revised model of the Switch 2 console will launch in Europe later this year. Scheduled for a fall release, the new hardware iteration is designed specifically to comply with the European Union’s stringent new battery regulations. While the console has experienced strong sales globally since its debut last year, this marks the first official hardware adjustment for Nintendo’s latest hybrid system.
The upcoming European revision introduces several structural changes to the core hardware. The new model will feature a user-replaceable battery that is one percent smaller than the original, and the accompanying Joy-Con 2 controllers will also be updated with user-replaceable power sources. Because of these internal design modifications, the revised console will weigh 10 grams more than the launch model. Nintendo has not yet shared official product images of the updated system.
This compliance initiative extends beyond the main console to include Nintendo’s broader ecosystem of peripherals. A revised version of the Switch 2 Pro Controller featuring a replaceable battery is slated to launch this winter, followed by updated versions of the wireless Nintendo 64 and GameCube controllers in early 2027. While Nintendo has not announced plans to roll out these specific hardware changes to regions outside of Europe, historical trends suggest the manufacturer may eventually integrate similar design principles globally.
These adjustments arrive during a complicated economic period for the platform holder. Due to an ongoing global RAM crisis and related manufacturing factors, Nintendo is raising the standard price of the Switch 2 in the United States to $499.99 effective September 1. To ease the transition for consumers, the company plans to bundle upcoming hardware purchases with a choice of a free game, such as Mario Kart World, Pokemon Pokopia, or Donkey Kong Bananza. Despite the price hikes, the company is preparing a major software push for the holiday season, anchored by the highly anticipated remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
