Nintendo Will Stop Selling the Switch 1 in Europe in 2027

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Nintendo has announced that it will phase out sales of the original Nintendo Switch — including the Switch Lite and Switch OLED Model — across Europe and select other markets by February 2027. The decision comes as the iconic hybrid console approaches its tenth anniversary and marks the beginning of a formal transition toward the Switch 2 ecosystem.

Nintendo confirmed the timeline in a statement to Engadget, noting that all three Switch 1 variants “should be widely available in Europe all year” throughout 2026. However, as of early 2027, the company will no longer sell the devices to retailers or through the Nintendo Store in the affected regions.

Why Now? The EU Battery Regulation

The primary driver for this phaseout is the European Union’s updated battery regulations, which require certain electronic devices to feature user-replaceable batteries. Rather than retrofit the aging Switch 1 hardware with a swappable battery, Nintendo has chosen to wind down sales entirely in the region.

In parallel, Nintendo will introduce a revised version of the Switch 2 that meets the new EU battery standards. This updated model, arriving in select markets as soon as this fall, will carry a slightly smaller 5,172 mAh battery (down from 5,220 mAh — a roughly 1 percent reduction) and will weigh approximately 10 grams more than the current Switch 2. The change is negligible for end users but critical for regulatory compliance.

A Gradual Hardware Transition

Nintendo’s roadmap for swappable-battery peripherals is already in motion:

Joy-Con controllers with user-replaceable batteries will begin rolling out this summer.
Joy-Con 2 controllers will follow this winter.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller, Nintendo 64 controller for Switch, and GameCube controller for Switch 2 will all receive swappable-battery revisions on similar timelines.

Not every accessory will make the jump. Nintendo will discontinue the Switch Pro Controller, Sega Mega Drive controller for Switch, SNES controller for Switch, and Pokémon Go Plus+ in markets served by Nintendo of Europe.

What This Means for Gamers

For European Switch owners, little changes in the short term. Consoles and games will remain available through 2026, and existing hardware will continue to function normally. The move primarily signals that Nintendo is clearing the decks for the Switch 2 as its flagship platform — a pattern we’ve seen with every Nintendo console generation.

It remains unclear whether similar phaseout plans will apply to North America, Japan, or other global markets. Engadget has reached out to Nintendo for clarification, but the company has not yet confirmed a broader global timeline.

The original Switch launched in March 2017 and went on to become one of the best-selling consoles of all time, surpassing 140 million units worldwide. Its hybrid handheld/docked design redefined portable gaming and produced an extraordinary library of first-party and third-party titles.

The Bigger Picture

This transition is as much about regulation as it is about product lifecycle. The EU’s push for right-to-repair and replaceable batteries — encapsulated in Directives like 2023/1542 — is forcing consumer electronics companies to rethink hardware design. Nintendo’s decision to end Switch 1 sales rather than retrofit is pragmatic, but it also underscores how regulatory shifts are reshaping product roadmaps across the tech industry.

As the Switch 2 gains momentum with its own library and upgraded hardware, the original Switch’s retirement in Europe is both an end of an era and a necessary step toward the future of Nintendo gaming.

Switch 2 on Know the Tech

Nintendo Will Stop Selling the Switch 1 in Europe in 2027

Why Now? The EU Battery Regulation

A Gradual Hardware Transition

What This Means for Gamers

The Bigger Picture