Nintendo is ending production of the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED for the European market in February 2027, earlier than would normally be expected given the console's enduring popularity. The change has been forced by new EU "right to repair" legislation requiring easily replaceable batteries in electronic devices, which Nintendo has chosen not to retrofit onto the ageing original Switch line, instead complying by launching a redesigned Switch 2 model with a removable battery for Europe.

While the legislation is broadly welcomed for pushing back against manufacturer-driven obsolescence and reducing electronic waste, its timing creates an affordability gap: with the original Switch (from around $200) exiting the European market, the Switch 2 at roughly $500 will become the cheapest new Nintendo hardware available there. Commentators warn this pricing, driven partly by a global memory chip shortage, risks locking out younger players, lower-income households and those in developing economies who relied on the budget-friendly original Switch as an entry point into gaming.