Nintendo to sell Joy-Con battery replacement kits to comply with EU e-waste rules

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Nintendo is dishing out not just a new model of the Nintendo Switch 2, but even the older original Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers are receiving revised models in Europe to comply with the new EU regulations regarding e-waste. However, the eagle-eyed X (Twitter) user OatmealDome discovered (via VGC ) that the brand is also planning to provide battery replacement kits for those eager to tinker around with the revised Ninty gamepads.

The official Nintendo Support section of the brand's website includes a page entitled 'Joy-Con (R) (HAC-016(-01)) Battery Replacement Procedure', which outlines a tutorial on, you've guessed it , replacing the battery of the new EU-compliant right Joy-Con controller. Within the introduction spiel, Nintendo states that its instructions are intended to be used in conjunction with the kit, which is planned to be stocked by the official Nintendo store "in the future."

(Image credit: Future) The official Nintendo Support page outlines the existence of the two different older Joy-Con types: the HAC-016(-01) model, which includes a replaceable battery, and the HAC-016, which does not. If you're planning on buying a new pair of OG Joy-Cons sometime soon and want to know which one you've got, Nintendo has provided a handy 'How to identify whether your Joy-Con controller contains a user-replaceable battery' tutorial on its support page too.

According to the page , the Joy-Cons with serial numbers starting "AX" or "AW" as found via the system's settings contain user-replaceable batteries. Meanwhile, small print on the back of the older gamepads will also mark whether it's a HAC-015(-01) / HAC-016(-01) (replaceable) or HAC-015 / HAC-016, which are not. The revised Joy-Cons are said to be available starting from July 16, 2026, so you could likely run into a pair online already if you're based in Europe like me.

The Nintendo Battery Replacement Kit is intended to be used alongside the HAC-006(-01) right Joy-Con, and you'll need a PH00 Phillips (cross-head) screwdriver, a pair of plastic tweezers, a plastic spudger, and some double-sided tape before you start opening up your pad. Which is fine, as all of these are provided within the official battery replacement kit.

(Image credit: Future) After you've got the kit, you have to follow Nintendo's 13-step procedure, which includes unscrewing the back of the controllers and steps like removing the old double-sided tape already inside. For some extra help for those a bit scared of opening up the pricey pads, Nintendo has even provided some video clips alongside the outlined steps, and has even outlined how to safely dispose of the old battery, so you don't set your home ablaze.

If I can get hold of the revised Joy-Cons with the replaceable batteries, I'd be eager to grab this battery kit and put Nintendo's tutorial to the test. However, I'll have to wait, as there's been no mention of when the Nintendo Battery Replacement Kit will be available on the Nintendo Store, and a quick search of the UK version of the online storefront comes up with nothing.

Now, if only Nintendo were to supply official Nintendo Joy-Con stick replacements so I can fix the drift in all my older controllers. One can only dream.

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New to Switch 2? Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch headsets , the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras , and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers .