Update – July 8:
Nintendo have confirmed that the removal of the original Switch family of hardware from sale early next year is in Europe only. North America, Japan and other markets are not affected (credit: VGC).
Original Story:
It’s quite hard to believe that early next year will mark ten years of the Nintendo Switch, for many the greatest console to have ever existed. The hybrid console has been credited for saving handheld gaming from becoming mobile only in a time when that seemed inevitable.
Just shy of that ten-year milestone on March 3, 2026, Nintendo will cease sales of the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch OLED in Europe. Hidden in the FAQs of an announcement to changes in battery-related revisions for the Switch 2 and accessories, Nintendo said:
“Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model will all continue to be manufactured in 2026, and should be widely available in Europe all year.
From mid-February 2027, almost ten years after Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, Nintendo will no longer sell to retailers hardware in the Nintendo Switch family of systems – specifically Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. Sales of Nintendo Switch hardware on Nintendo Store will also end in mid-February 2027”.
There is no statement on the ending of Nintendo Switch sales in other markets at this time.
It’s no surprise that this time has come. The Switch’s successor, the Switch 2 released in June 2025 and has been one of the fastest selling pieces of gaming hardware ever, managing 3.5m sales in its first four days on sale. With challenges to the global supply of components and Nintendo wanting to capitalise on the Switch 2’s success, their production efforts will have shifted. The Switch 2 is due a price increase in the months ahead – something Nintendo didn’t seem to want to do for a while.
It is also highly likely that they wouldn’t want to offer battery replacements for the Switch 1 family of hardware which they’ll be legally obligated to offer for the Switch 2 under new European legislation. The new legislation which comes into force early next year means batteries “must generally be removable and replaceable by consumers”, which is excellent for gamers with ageing hardware.
With only 8 months left to purchase an original Nintendo Switch in Europe, will you finally be picking one up? Or will you be saving for a Switch 2 before its price increase instead? Let us know in the comments below or join the friendly and active Gamer Social Club Discord to chat about all your favourite Nintendo games.
