4 weeks ago
Talha Sonmez
Nintendo has confirmed that it is preparing revised versions of its products for the European market to comply with upcoming European Union battery regulations. This move will affect hardware with model numbers beginning with "BEE," including the [Nintendo Switch 2](https://amzn.to/4jfmAke).
The announcement provides the first official confirmation that Nintendo is working on updated versions of its current hardware lineup ahead of the EU's new battery rules, which will come into force on February 18, 2027.
Under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, batteries integrated into certain consumer electronics sold within the European Union must be designed so that end users can easily remove and replace them during the normal lifetime of the product. The legislation is intended to improve repairability, reduce electronic waste, and extend device longevity.
Nintendo stated that it is already taking steps to meet the new requirements.
"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."
The company says these updated devices will be treated as distinct products for regulatory purposes and will carry both new model numbers and an "OSM" designation on retail packaging.
The confirmation also validates an earlier report published by Nikkei in March, which claimed Nintendo was preparing a revised version of the Switch 2 specifically for the European market. While the report generated speculation at the time, Nintendo had not publicly acknowledged any planned hardware changes until now.
Exactly how Nintendo intends to redesign the Switch 2 remains unclear. The current hardware does not feature a user-friendly battery replacement process. A teardown conducted by iFixit found that accessing the battery requires several disassembly steps, specialised pry tools, and adhesive-removal solvent, making battery replacement difficult for most consumers.
To comply with EU regulations, Nintendo may need to significantly alter the Switch 2's internal design, potentially introducing a more accessible battery compartment or reducing the amount of adhesive used to secure the battery. However, the company has not shared any technical details regarding the revised hardware.
For consumers outside Europe, it remains unknown whether Nintendo will adopt the same design globally or release a Europe-specific revision. The company has only confirmed that compliant versions are being prepared for the EU market ahead of the 2027 deadline.
As manufacturers across the technology industry adapt to the new EU requirements, Nintendo's confirmation marks one of the clearest indications yet that future gaming hardware sold in Europe will be designed with repairability and battery replacement in mind.
[Follow Stock Checker on Google News](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFWE4wYjJOckxXTm9aV05yWlhJdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen) and [add us as a preferred source](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=stock-checker.com) to get our news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!