Nintendo Updates Switch 2 Hardware Ahead of Global Price Increase
Kyoto, Saturday, 6 June 2026.
Nintendo is updating the Switch 2 with user-replaceable batteries while preparing for a $500 price hike, a move that recently caused an 87% sales drop in Japan.
Navigating Regulatory Shifts and Hardware Revisions
Nintendo (NTDOY) is proactively adjusting its hardware manufacturing to align with new European Union mandates [GPT][6]. Between June 1 and June 3, 2026, the company confirmed via its official European website that future EU-compliant iterations of the Switch 2 will feature unique model numbers and an “OSM” product code on their packaging [6]. This revision directly addresses EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, which dictates that by February 18, 2027, integrated batteries in consumer appliances must be easily replaceable by end-users [6]. Current Switch 2 models, which carry model numbers beginning with “BEE”, launched in June 2025 with an LCD screen, a TV dock, modular Joy-Con controllers, and a battery life limited to a few hours [1][6]. The transition to the “OSM” models will allow users to access and replace the battery without disassembling the console [6].