New Nintendo Switch 2 Model Announced for Europe This Fall with

Nintendo's new Switch 2 model for Europe will roll out this fall, with user-replaceable batteries that make the console slightly heavier.

As per a report by Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Nintendo is set to introduce changes to its Switch 2 hardware and accessories ahead of new European Union regulations mandating user-replaceable batteries in electronic devices. The updated models will facilitate easier servicing and prolong the lifespan of the equipment without necessitating complete replacements. The new Joy-Con for the Switch 1 will be the first to receive the update, starting this summer, with no alterations to battery capacity or weight.

The upcoming Switch 2 models, available from this fall, will feature a slightly smaller replaceable battery, causing a marginal 1% increase in weight. The attached Joy-Con 2 controllers will also incorporate this change. Consequently, the console's weight will rise from 534 grams to 548 grams when controllers are attached (or from 401g to 411g without controllers). Additionally, individual Joy-Con for the Switch 2, to be sold from winter onwards, will also boast replaceable batteries. The new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controllers will see a 16% reduction in battery size, resulting in a 7g weight reduction.

Furthermore, retro console controllers like the N64 controller for the Switch and the GameCube controller for the Switch 2 will undergo modifications, with slight weight increases. Nintendo has opted not to release an updated version of the Switch 1 in Europe and will discontinue sales of the older hardware in the region. Battery replacement kits for these products will be offered at the Nintendo Store in Europe in the future, as stated in a company blog post.