Nintendo Confirms Switch 1 Global Availability After Announcing European Withdrawal
Nintendo has confirmed it will continue selling the original Switch globally but will discontinue the console in Europe starting mid-February 2027. The discontinuation follows an announcement that the company is phasing out the first-generation console in Europe to make room for the upcoming Switch 2 launch.
Switch 2 and its various controllers will launch in Europe this fall with a significant hardware improvement: user-replaceable batteries designed to comply with new EU legislation. This change addresses EU regulatory requirements around electronic waste and product sustainability, making the Switch 2 more environmentally compliant than its predecessor.
Nintendo has opted not to update the aging Switch 1 hardware to meet EU standards. Rather than investing in modifications to the original console, the company is removing it from the European market entirely, concentrating its efforts on the next-generation Switch 2 platform. This regional discontinuation reflects Nintendo’s shift in strategy as it transitions consumers to newer hardware, while maintaining Switch 1 availability in other global markets beyond Europe.