Nintendo is winding down original Switch sales in Europe

Nintendo has announced it will discontinue sales of the original Nintendo Switch console in Europe beginning mid-February 2027, marking the end of an era for the hardware that launched in March 2017. The discontinuation applies to all original Switch models, including the Switch Lite and Switch OLED variants, affecting both retailer shipments and the official Nintendo Store.

The sunsetting is directly driven by new European Union regulations requiring consumer electronics manufacturers to incorporate user-replaceable batteries. In response, Nintendo is preparing revised versions of the Switch 2 console—which debuted in 2025—alongside updated controllers to comply with these requirements. This includes user-replaceable battery versions of the Switch 2, Switch 2 Pro Controller, original Switch Joy-Cons, and classic N64 and GameCube controllers designed for European markets.

While the discontinuation announcement is currently limited to Europe, industry observers expect similar announcements for North America and other regions in coming months. Nintendo has not yet signaled retirement plans for the original Switch outside Europe. The nearly ten-year lifecycle of the original Switch represents an extraordinarily successful hardware generation, and its planned discontinuation marks a natural transition as the Switch 2 expands its global market presence to fill the gap left by the aging console.

Sources

• Nintendo is winding down original Switch sales in Europe
• Original Nintendo Switch Will Be Discontinued In Europe
• Nintendo Switch Consoles Will No Longer Be Sold From Mid-February 2027 Onwards — at Least in Europe
• Nintendo Will Stop Selling The Original Switch From February 2027
• The Nintendo Switch will no longer be produced from 2027 onward
• Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next year
• Nintendo will stop selling the Nintendo Switch in 2027