Nintendo confirmed that it will be releasing a Switch 2 version with replaceable batteries in 2027, in order to comply with the European Union’s new directives.
The Japanese gaming giant says it “is implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation.” The regulation in question is 2023/1542, which requires certain devices to offer batteries that can be replaced by users.
Nintendo will make sure its gaming console meets this requirement by February 18, 2027. In a post announcing the change, Nintendo indicates that customers will be able to tell which device has removable batteries by the model number. “For current products with model numbers starting with ‘BEE’, future compliant versions will have unique model numbers and the additional code ‘OSM’ visible on the packaging, designating them as separate products for regulatory purposes.”
Essentially, this means that the current models have BEE, and future compliant models will have a unique model number and an additional code reading OSM on the packaging.
It’s unclear if any of this means that Nintendo will bring a Switch 2 version with replaceable batteries to Canada. In recent years, it’s become a bit more common for the EU to put out compliance for tech companies to follow. In the past, Apple had to start using USB-C charging ports for its iPhones and bring RCS to iMessage. The USB-C iPhone is here in Canada, so maybe we’ll get a EU-compliant Switch 2 too.
Source: Nintendo
