Key Highlights:
- Nintendo Switch discontinuation in Europe for 2027 has been officially confirmed by Nintendo.
- The original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED will stop being sold through retailers and the Nintendo Store from mid-February 2027.
- The change is linked to new European battery regulations requiring user-replaceable batteries.
Nintendo has officially confirmed that the original Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED will reach the end of their retail life in Europe next year, bringing an end to nearly a decade of sales for one of the company’s most successful consoles.
The announcement comes as Nintendo prepares for new European battery regulations that take effect in mid-February 2027. Rather than redesigning the original Switch family to meet the requirement for user-replaceable batteries, Nintendo will stop supplying the consoles to retailers across Europe.
According to the company, hardware sales through the Nintendo Store will also end at the same time. While existing retail stock may continue to be sold until supplies run out, retailers will no longer be able to order new units after the deadline.
Nintendo said:
“Starting summer 2026, in preparation for upcoming changes in European battery regulations coming into effect in mid-February 2027, selected Nintendo products in Europe will begin to be replaced on a rolling basis by revisions that contain a user-replaceable battery. There is no difference in functionality between current products and revised products containing user-replaceable batteries. The first revised products are expected to become available from summer 2026, with additional products becoming available in autumn, winter, and early 2027. Due to a variety of factors, revised products may not become available in all European countries simultaneously.”
The decision also affects several accessories sold through the Nintendo Store. Products that will no longer be offered include the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Controller for Nintendo Switch, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Controller for Nintendo Switch, the SEGA Mega Drive Control Pad for Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and the Pokémon GO Plus +.
Not every product is disappearing, however. The company has confirmed that several newer devices, including the Nintendo Switch 2, Joy-Con controllers, and a range of Switch 2 accessories, will be updated with redesigned batteries that comply with the upcoming legislation. The revised Switch 2 hardware will feature a slightly smaller removable battery, with capacity decreasing from 5,220mAh to 5,172mAh.
Despite the end of sales, Nintendo stressed that support for the existing Switch ecosystem will continue. Owners will still be able to access their purchased games, while Nintendo Switch Online and other services will remain available for the foreseeable future.
The announcement marks the closing chapter for a console that first launched in March 2017 and went on to become Nintendo’s best-selling system. As of 31 December 2025, the company had sold 155.37 million Switch consoles worldwide, surpassing the Nintendo DS to become Nintendo’s highest-selling hardware. The Sony PlayStation 2 is currently the best-selling video game console of all-time, but the OG Switch got mighty close!
Whether sales continue outside Europe beyond early 2027 remains unclear, with Nintendo only confirming the changes for the European market.
I think the most important detail here is that this isn’t a traditional discontinuation driven by the arrival of new hardware alone. The original Switch family is ending in Europe because of regulatory changes, while Nintendo is adapting the newer Switch 2 lineup instead. That distinction explains why support will continue even after new units are no longer being supplied.