Nintendo has confirmed that it will cease sales of all Nintendo Switch models to retailers and on its official store by mid-February 2027, marking the end of an era for the best-selling console. The announcement was buried in a support page FAQ about upcoming battery changes required by new EU regulations.
Discontinuation Date and Battery Changes
In a post on Nintendo's support site, the company detailed that from mid-February 2027, nearly ten years after the Switch launched in March 2017, it will no longer sell hardware in the Nintendo Switch family—including the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED Model—to retailers. Sales on the Nintendo Store will also end at that time.
To comply with upcoming EU law, Switch models purchased after summer 2026 will feature a user-replaceable battery. The discontinuation news was hidden within this FAQ section.
Sales Milestones and Market Impact
The Nintendo Switch has sold 155.92 million units across all models to date, making it Nintendo's most popular console. It trails only the PlayStation 2, which sold roughly 160 million units. With eight months of manufacturing remaining, the Switch could still claim the top spot in lifetime sales.
According to Nintendo's statement: “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.”
What This Means for Gamers
After the February 2027 cut-off, new Switch consoles will only be available while retailer stock lasts. Once depleted, buyers will have to rely on the second-hand market. The original Switch has had a longer commercial lifespan than most console generations, and Nintendo continues to support it with new games, though the Switch 2 has superseded it in power.
The discontinuation may hit budget-conscious gamers hard, as gaming hardware prices rise. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set for a $50 price increase in September, though UK pricing remains unannounced.
