Nintendo has confirmed its plans to launch a new version of the Switch 2 console with an easy replaceable battery, in order to comply with right-to-repair rules in the European Union. That could be great news for gamers with consoles suffering from battery degradation, who currently need to undertake a fiddly process via a repair kit or enlist Nintendo or other third-party professionals to handle it.
According to a post on Nintendo’s website, the company plans to be compliant with the regulations by the deadline of February 18 next year. However, it doesn’t say when that version will be made available. Interestingly, Nintendo says the company is planning to make products with the “BEE” model numbers compliant with the regulations. That could mean both the console and the Joy-Cons could be get easily-replaceable batteries.
In a post on its corporate website, the company writes: “The Regulation requires that from February 18th, 2027, batteries integrated into certain appliances and sold in the EU must be easily replaceable by end-users at any time during the lifetime of the product. Nintendo is implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation. For current products with model numbers starting with “BEE”, future compliant versions will have unique model numbers and the additional code “OSM” visible on the packaging, designating them as separate products for regulatory purposes.”
It’s also not clear whether Nintendo will limit the new version to the European Union market, or whether it’ll become the standard version of the Switch 2 moving forward. One would hope the company opts for just one production method, rather than switching things up (pardon the pun) for manufacturing in one region.
When Apple, for example, switched to USB-C charging for iPhone models, that was due to the change in EU law to mandate a universal charger. Apple just changed the ports everywhere to the joy of everyone.
Overall, this is good news and let’s hope Nintendo makes it easier for gamers to keep playing and play for longer.
Read the full article here
