New European Union battery rules take effect in mid-February 2027, and Nintendo has shared details on how it plans to comply: revised versions of the Switch 2, its controllers, and even the retro controllers will roll out across Europe with user-replaceable batteries, starting this summer. The revisions will replace current products on a rolling basis, and Nintendo says there is no difference in functionality between the current hardware and the new versions. The spec sheets did shift slightly, though, and one change stands out more than the rest.
The rollout starts with original Joy-Con pairs, beginning with Neon Blue and Neon Red this summer and other colors staggered throughout the year. The revised Switch 2 console follows in autumn, Joy-Con 2 pairs and the Switch 2 Pro Controller arrive this winter, and the N64 and GameCube controllers close things out in early 2027. Those windows reflect estimated availability on the Nintendo Store, and Nintendo warns that timing can change and that not every country will get the revised products at the same time, so European readers should check with local retailers closer to each launch.
The revised Switch 2 console carries a 5,172mAh battery, roughly 1 percent smaller than the current 5,220mAh unit, and weighs approximately 411g, about 10g heavier than the current version. With the Joy-Con 2 controllers attached, the total climbs to roughly 548g, a 14g increase, and the included Joy-Con 2 will have user-replaceable batteries as well. Standalone Joy-Con 2 pairs keep the same battery capacity and gain about 2g per controller, while the original Joy-Con revisions change nothing at all in capacity or weight.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller takes the biggest hit, dropping from 1,070mAh to 897mAh, a reduction of about 16 percent, though the controller also gets 7g lighter in the process. In my Switch 2 Pro Controller review, I said you’ll easily get at least 40 hours of playtime before needing a recharge, continuing Nintendo’s tradition of excellent battery performance dating back to the Wii U Pro Controller. Nintendo hasn’t said whether the smaller battery cuts into that number, but it’s a safe bet it does. The GameCube controller is the odd one out, with its battery actually growing 5 percent to 525mAh while gaining 5g, and the N64 controller keeps its capacity while picking up a single gram.
Nothing changes in North America for now, as the announcement only covers Europe and Nintendo hasn’t said anything about other regions. Battery replacement kits for each product will be sold through the Nintendo Store in Europe down the line, and Nintendo says more information is coming shortly before each revised product goes on sale.
