Nintendo has confirmed that its decision to stop selling the original Switch console applies only to Europe, and will not affect the console's availability in the rest of the world. The move, which takes effect from mid-February 2027, appears to be linked to the European Union's new Right to Repair rules, which require manufacturers of battery-powered electronics to make batteries easy for users to access and replace. Rather than redesign the ageing Switch 1 to comply, Nintendo has chosen to withdraw it from the European market entirely.

The company told IGN it plans to keep selling the Switch outside regions where Nintendo of Europe operates. For the newer Switch 2, Nintendo has committed to complying with the rules, announcing redesigned hardware — including the Joy-Con, Pro Controller, and N64 and GameCube controllers — with replaceable batteries, rolling out through this year and into early 2027. The Switch 1, one of Nintendo's most successful consoles, will leave European shelves just short of its 10-year anniversary. Nintendo raised prices on some original Switch models late last year, though only in the US.