Rumoured Nintendo Switch 2 variant could be a dream for DIY fans

Nintendo is going to offer a Switch 2 games console with a user replaceable battery pack to align with EU regulations, according to a new report.

Japanese news agency Nikkei’s sources claim gamers in the European Union will get a version of the console and Joy-Cons with lithium-ion batteries that can be switched out at home, without having to send the console in for service. The report says “the specifications will be changed so that consumers can easily replace the battery of the main unit.”

Nintendo has until 2027 to get in line with the EU’s right-to-repair policy, but it’s not clear when the new Switch 2 console will arrive on the continent. Currently there are no plans to offer the model outside of the EU. However, that might change if there are similar repairability efforts are adopted by other governments.

“In the future, if consumers’ awareness of the right to repair increases in Japan and the United States, there is a possibility of responding,” Nikkei reports.

It’s unlikely the Switch 2 and Joy-Cons will have simple slide-in and slide-out batteries enabling users to extend their battery life. That’s not necessarily what “easily replaceable” means in this context.

What we’re probably looking at is a Switch that offers easier access to the battery. It’ll still take some careful but achieveable DIY, but won’t require tinkerers to dismantle the entire device in order to get out of the battery.

So, while this won’t be for everyone, the key is the *right* to do it. And let’s face it, having a crack at doing it yourself with the right tools and instructions will be preferred to sending it away, or ditching the console completely because the battery has taken a crap. Hopefully Brits can easily access this model too. Otherwise we might see a few folks hopping over the channel to buy one.