Nintendo is set to discontinue the sale of its original Switch models in Europe next year, with retailers no longer able to stock the consoles after mid-February 2027. This move comes as the company prepares for the next generation of its hardware and aligns with new European Union regulations.
The directive, which mandates that console manufacturers ship products allowing users to change their own batteries, presents a challenge for the aging Switch design. Rather than re-engineer the original model to comply with the new rules, Nintendo has opted to cease its availability in the European market. The Switch's 10th anniversary is approaching next year, making the decision to retire the hardware in Europe financially pragmatic.
Nintendo has confirmed its intention to adhere to the EU's Right to Repair directive for its upcoming Switch 2 consoles, which will feature user-replaceable batteries. These revised models are expected to be virtually identical to the current Switch 2 hardware already available. However, Nintendo noted that the rollout of these new models might not be uniform across all European countries due to a variety of factors, including potential ongoing memory and component shortages.
While the original Switch hardware is being phased out in Europe, the company has not yet indicated a timeline for its retirement in North America. The discontinuation in Europe may stem from Nintendo's greater incentive to comply with the EU's stricter regulations. The Switch 2, like its predecessor, will continue to support physical media, although Nintendo has increasingly utilized Game-Key Cards for third-party titles on the platform, a practice that has drawn criticism from games preservation advocates.