Nintendo ceases the sale of the original Switch in Europe.

      Nearly a decade after its introduction, the original Nintendo Switch will disappear from European retailers next year. This change is due to a new EU regulation regarding batteries, not the upcoming Switch 2.

      Nintendo will cease sales of all versions of the original Switch in Europe starting mid-February 2027, as reported by The Verge. This decision comes just weeks before the console celebrates its tenth anniversary. The discontinuation affects the Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED models, with sales to both retailers and through the Nintendo Store coming to an end.

      The reason for the changes lies in the new battery regulations. As of February 18, 2027, portable devices sold within the EU must allow users to replace their own batteries. Nintendo plans to phase out the current models and introduce updated versions that meet these requirements, beginning this summer, assuring that there will be "no difference in functionality" between the old and new models.

      The Switch 2 will undergo the most significant modification. A variant featuring a user-replaceable battery is expected to hit stores in the fall, according to Engadget. The differences are minimal; the new battery capacity is 5,172mAh compared to 5,220mAh in the current model, a reduction of about 1 percent, while the console will gain approximately 10g. Updated Joy-Con controllers, the Switch 2 Pro Controller, as well as the N64 and GameCube pads, will be launched gradually.

      However, not all products will continue. Nintendo will retire the original Switch Pro Controller, along with the Sega Mega Drive and SNES pads, and the Pokémon Go Plus+ accessory. None of these will have a replaceable-battery replacement. The new regulations will be enforced across the 35 markets served by Nintendo of Europe, including the UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

      A subdued conclusion for now

      Nintendo has not indicated whether this discontinuation will extend beyond Europe. With increasing manufacturing costs and the transition to the Switch 2, halting production of the aging hardware worldwide might seem appealing. Nevertheless, the original console still has some life left, as several new first-party titles, including Rhythm Heaven Groove and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, are on the horizon.

      Initially intended for smartphones, these battery regulations will quietly mark the end of one of the best-selling gaming consoles in its home region.