Nintendo has confirmed in an official post that it will release an EU-compliant version of Switch 2 with user-swappable batteries before February 18, 2027, the date on which the EU Battery Regulation takes effect for portable appliances. The regulation requires that batteries in devices such as handheld game consoles be removable by end-users at any time using only commercially available tools, without specialist equipment. Nintendo said it is “implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation.” The redesigned units will carry unique model numbers distinct from current “BEE”-prefix Switch 2 hardware, with an additional “OSM” code on packaging to identify them as separate regulatory products. Joy-Con 2 controllers will also be redesigned under the same compliance effort.
Nintendo did not announce a release window or pricing for the new variant; in May 2026 the company raised the EU price of the standard Switch 2 from €470 to €500 citing rising memory costs and changes in market conditions. The company made no mention of “HAC”-code products — the Switch 1 series — indicating no plans for a compliant revision of the older console, consistent with its gradual phase-out. The “OSM” regulatory identifier and the separate product listing imply the user-replaceable version will be sold exclusively in the EU, at least initially; Nintendo has not commented on whether the redesign will extend to Japan or the US. The current Switch 2 uses strong adhesive to secure its battery, as documented in an iFixit teardown, meaning the EU version will require meaningful internal changes rather than a cosmetic update.