European consumers considering a Switch 2 purchase can look forward to a revised version of the hybrid console, as Nintendo has announced a region-specific change to the device. The new model will have a removable battery, so that it complies with the EU Batteries Legislation, which was passed back in 2023 by the European Union.
That specific set of regulations will come into full effect on February 18, 2027 (via VGC), and Nintendo has announced that it will comply with it. According to the legislation, consumer products with built-in batteries are legally required to make them removable and replaceable. Nintendo says that products starting with the model number “BEE” will be changed to meet these requirements, and the Switch 2 has a model number of BEE-01.
This legislation could have an impact on several other Nintendo products, like Switch Joy-Con and Pro controllers, as the batteries in these peripherals aren’t easy to remove or replace. Nintendo hasn’t mentioned if these console revisions will result in a further price hike for the Switch 2 in Europe–new prices come into effect in September–or if it will roll out to other regions.
So far, Nintendo has moved a lot of Switch 2 consoles across the globe, with 19.82 million units sold as of March 31. June 5 will mark the one-year anniversary of the Switch 2, but for its second year, Nintendo is predicting that it’ll sell fewer consoles due to a wide variety of global factors. Meanwhile, the original Switch has cemented its legacy as Nintendo’s best-selling console of all time with 155.92 million consoles as of March 31.
Nintendo’s Top-Selling Switch 2 Games Of All Time
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