Even those who produce hybrid gaming consoles, such as the Switch and Switch 2 from the Japanese multinational Nintendo, are subject to the new European regulations regarding recycling and repairability of portable devices. That is why, according to the newspaper Nikkei, the Kyoto-based company is already working on a new version of its platform launched less than a year ago (the official debut took place on June 5, 2025) in order to align with the EU’s requirements.
A SWITCH 2 JUST FOR THE EU?
As mentioned above, the Japanese daily reports the rumor that an advanced development stage has been reached for a Switch 2 model that allows easy access to the battery compartment, enabling its replacement in case of malfunction or normal wear.
The particular design of the Switch 2, which features three separable parts powered by as many batteries, means that to comply with EU rules both the console and the two Joy-Cons (the controllers) in the new version will allow the safe removal and replacement of lithium-ion batteries.
No other structural modifications beyond this hardware and software intervention are expected: in short, the Nintendo console will essentially remain identical to the one that debuted last spring.
WILL THE EUROPEAN SWITCH 2 BECOME UNIVERSAL?
Nikkei also speculates that this version could be gradually extended to Asian and U.S. markets, both to facilitate production (maintaining a single model on the market optimizes costs) and naturally to avoid Nintendo being unprepared in the face of the enactment of regulations similar to the European ones which, at least for now, in terms of environmental and consumer rights certainly represent a unique achievement to be proud of.
THE EU PUSHES FOR RECYCLING OF RAW MATERIALS (WHICH IT LACKS)
The purpose of these rules is twofold: on one hand, to pressure for the recycling of electronic waste, which besides polluting represents a treasure trove of easily recoverable raw materials (and the EU fully intends to put them back into circulation, not having natural resources and deposits within its territory); on the other hand, to prevent European consumers from passively suffering the obsolescence of modern devices that are built to discourage repair and push directly towards replacing the entire device. It is no coincidence that the practice of gluing batteries to the rest of the device’s casing, while simultaneously sealing the compartment where they are housed, is now prohibited.
