Nintendo is reportedly updating console specs to comply with EU’s right to repair rules
A new model of the Nintendo Switch 2 is in the works for Europe, according to Japanese publication Nikkei, which reports that a version of the system with a user-replaceable battery is coming.
Nintendo will also update its Joy-Con 2 controllers for Europe with replaceable batteries, according to Nikkei. Those modifications to the existing Switch 2 are being developed to make the system and its controllers compliant with the European Union’s Right to Repair Directive, which will start taking effect in July in EU member states.
Passed by the European Parliament in April 2024, the directive obligates manufacturers to repair goods and encourages consumers to extend a product’s lifecycle through repair, according to a news release. The directive also gives consumers access to spare parts, tools, and repair information. The legislation is part of the EU’s Green Deal strategy to foster a circular economy by promoting repairs, reuse, and recycling to curb waste.
Nikkei’s report says that Nintendo may take similar actions in the U.S. or Japan if similar laws are passed. A handful of states in the U.S. have passed some version of right-to-repair legislation in recent years, but nothing as far-reaching as the EU’s directive. Currently, replacing the battery on a Switch 2 console or Joy-Con 2 controllers requires a service request from Nintendo in the U.S. It’s unclear whether the revised Nintendo Switch 2 model that will feature a replaceable battery will come with an increased cost for consumers.
Nintendo already has a region-specific version of the Switch 2: The company sells a Japanese-language version of Switch 2 exclusively for Japanese customers. The system is region-locked and can only access a Japanese version of the eShop.
Nintendo recently released a major software update for Switch 2 that includes a feature called Handheld Boost Mode. This mode allows the Switch 2 to run original Switch games in handheld mode as if they were docked in TV mode, increasing resolution and performance. Nintendo also added the ability to save notes about friends on your friends list; made it easier to invite friends through GameChat; changed the text and animation when loading a virtual game card; and included breakdowns of storage capacity by data type.
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