Nintendo Switch’s End Date: What We Know So Far
▼ Summary
– Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch in Europe next February due to EU regulations requiring easily replaceable batteries.
– Rather than redesigning older Switch models to comply, Nintendo chose to discontinue sales in Europe while doing so for the Switch 2.
– The battery regulation will not affect Switch availability outside of Europe.
– An Ars analysis of Nintendo’s earnings shows that its bestselling hardware sales tend to decline to zero after nine years on the market.
– The Switch has shown relatively strong market resilience, potentially sustaining commercial life into its second decade.
Nintendo has officially announced that it will phase out sales of the original Nintendo Switch in Europe by February of next year. The decision stems from upcoming European Union regulations that mandate easily replaceable batteries in most consumer electronics. Rather than overhauling multiple existing Switch models to meet the new standards , a path the company is taking with the Switch 2 , Nintendo has opted to simply stop selling the older console in the region.
Of course, these battery rules will not affect Switch availability outside Europe. Still, the timing raises a natural question: how much longer will Nintendo continue selling the nine-year-old Switch now that the Switch 2 is capturing the company’s and the market’s attention?
An analysis of Nintendo’s recent sales data, drawn from its annual earnings reports, reveals a clear pattern. Even the company’s most popular hardware tends to see sales dwindle to near zero after about nine years on the market. However, the Switch has proven to be an unusually resilient performer. Its sustained commercial strength suggests it could continue generating meaningful sales well into its second decade, even as the Switch 2 takes center stage.
(Source: Ars Technica)
