Nintendo launches official Joy-Con battery swaps in Europe: only for revised models

Nintendo has published an official battery replacement guide for its revised European Switch Joy-Con controllers, giving owners a sanctioned 13-step repair path, though only for a very small slice of the overall Nintendo Switch lineup.

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Nintendo says the procedure applies only to the revised original European Joy-Con models HAC-015-01 and HAC-016-01. You also need Nintendo’s Battery Replacement Kit, which comes with the battery, a screwdriver, plastic tweezers, a spudger, and adhesive tape. So no, this isn’t a quick pop-out battery swap, and it doesn’t apply to older Joy-Cons or to units sold outside Europe.

This seems closely tied to the EU’s upcoming right-to-repair and battery rules. Reports also say these revised Joy-Con controllers use standard Phillips screws rather than the older tri-wing screws, which makes them easier to work on.

Anyone hoping their current Joy-Cons would suddenly get an official user battery replacement option is out of luck. This won’t do anything for drift, either. But if you’re buying these revised European models, it’s still a notable shift: Nintendo is finally allowing an official user repair, even if only in a limited case.

The guide and the Battery Replacement Kit are available through Nintendo’s European support channels.