Nintendo will stop selling the Switch 1 in Europe and some other markets starting in February 2027, shortly before the console’s 10th anniversary. The company will continue producing the Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch — OLED Model throughout 2026 and stated those variants “should be widely available in Europe all year.” However, sales to retailers or through the Nintendo Store will cease in specific regions at the beginning of 2027.
The potential discontinuation of Switch 1 systems may be driven by rising manufacturing costs and the upcoming transition to the Switch 2. Nintendo’s decision to halt Switch sales in Europe aligns with new European Union regulations mandating that certain devices must allow users to replace batteries easily. To comply, the company will phase out certain models and replace them with versions that include user-replaceable batteries, including the forthcoming Switch 2.
A revised iteration of the Switch 2 with a swappable battery will be launched in selected markets this fall. The new model will feature a slightly reduced battery capacity of 5172mAh, down approximately 1 percent from the current model’s 5220mAh. This updated console will weigh about 10g (0.4oz) more than its predecessor, resulting in an estimated total weight of 548g (19.3oz) including new Joy-Con 2 controllers.
Joy-Cons featuring swappable batteries are expected to be available this summer, followed by Joy-Con 2 controllers and the Switch 2 Pro Controller later in the winter. Additional peripherals, including the Nintendo 64 controller for Switch and the GameCube controller for Switch 2, will also be released. However, some existing accessories will not receive battery-swapping capabilities, specifically the Switch Pro Controller, Sega Mega Drive and SNES controllers for Switch, and Pokémon Go Plus+.
These changes will apply to markets served by Nintendo of Europe, which includes countries such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, among others.
