Nintendo to end original Switch hardware sales in Europe in 2027
Nintendo says the Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED will stop shipping to European retailers in mid-February 2027.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
Nintendo will stop selling original Switch hardware in Europe in mid-February 2027, ending retail availability of the first-generation console family on the continent nearly 10 years after launch. The move comes as the company prepares hardware revisions tied to European rules requiring user-replaceable batteries.
In an updated support FAQ, Nintendo said it will no longer sell the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite or Nintendo Switch OLED Model to retailers in Europe from mid-February 2027. The company said sales of Switch hardware through the Nintendo Store will end at the same time.
The original Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, according to Nintendo. The company did not say in the FAQ whether software, accessories or repairs for the older Switch line would be affected by the hardware sales cutoff.
Battery rules drive hardware changes
Nintendo’s announcement sits alongside a broader set of changes to its European hardware lineup. The company said it will begin introducing revised versions of several devices this summer on a rolling basis to address European Union battery requirements.
The Verge reported that the EU rules requiring user-replaceable batteries take effect on February 18, 2027. Nintendo said the revised products will contain batteries that users can replace, and that their functions will match the current versions.
“There is no difference in functionality between current products and revised products containing user-replaceable batteries,” Nintendo said in the FAQ.
The Switch 2 is the most prominent device in the update plan. According to The Verge, a revised Switch 2 for Europe is expected to begin rolling out in the fall.
Controllers are also being revised
Nintendo said the battery-related updates will cover more than the console hardware. The affected products include multiple controllers tied to both Switch generations.
- Joy-Con controllers
- Joy-Con 2 controllers
- Switch 2 Pro Controller
- Nintendo 64 controller for Switch
- GameCube controller for Switch
Nintendo framed the changes as product revisions rather than new feature updates. The company’s FAQ said the revised devices will be introduced gradually, rather than all at once.
The discontinuation notice applies to the original Switch family in Europe, according to Nintendo’s FAQ. The company’s stated plan does not include a similar end date for Switch 2 hardware sales.
The cutoff means European retailers will stop receiving new units of the 2017-era Switch family from Nintendo after mid-February 2027. Availability after that point would depend on remaining stock, though Nintendo did not detail retailer inventory plans in the FAQ.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.