Nintendo of Europe has published support documentation outlining how owners will swap batteries in the company’s upcoming Joy‑Con controllers with replaceable batteries, offering the first official look at the interiors and repair process for the redesigned controllers.
The documentation arrives ahead of a previously announced availability window of Summer 2026 for the new Joy‑Con models for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
The support articles, posted to Nintendo of Europe’s website, lay out step‑by‑step instructions for both Left and Right Joy‑Con units.
Nintendo’s materials describe a relatively straightforward process: remove exterior screws, separate the plastic housing using a plastic tool, and remove the battery from a dedicated compartment once the back panel is off.
The company frames the procedure as intentionally simple and accessible to end users.
Nintendo also confirms it will sell an official "battery replacement kit" for the new Joy‑Con.
According to the support pages, the kit will include a replacement battery, a purpose‑designed screwdriver, plastic tweezers, a plastic spudger for safely prying open the housing, and double‑sided tape to secure the battery.
Those components are intended to let owners complete the swap without specialized electronics tools.
Functionally, Nintendo’s documentation notes that the internal battery in the replaceable‑battery Joy‑Con is physically a bit larger than the cell used in current Joy‑Con controllers, but the external dimensions of the controllers remain unchanged.
The new battery sits in a compartment that becomes accessible after removing the Joy‑Con’s rear cover, making the replacement a matter of simple disassembly rather than soldering or board‑level repair.
The arrival of a replaceable battery option marks a change in design philosophy for Nintendo’s handheld controller line, responding to long‑standing user interest in repairability and longevity.
While Nintendo has not announced a firm retail launch date, the company has indicated the new Joy‑Con models will be available in Summer 2026 in Europe.
For Nintendo Switch owners tracking upcoming hardware and accessory updates, the support documentation provides concrete, verifiable details about the replacement process and the official parts kit that will accompany the redesigned Joy‑Con controllers.
The documentation arrives ahead of a previously announced availability window of Summer 2026 for the new Joy‑Con models for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
The support articles, posted to Nintendo of Europe’s website, lay out step‑by‑step instructions for both Left and Right Joy‑Con units.
Nintendo’s materials describe a relatively straightforward process: remove exterior screws, separate the plastic housing using a plastic tool, and remove the battery from a dedicated compartment once the back panel is off.
The company frames the procedure as intentionally simple and accessible to end users.
Nintendo also confirms it will sell an official "battery replacement kit" for the new Joy‑Con.
According to the support pages, the kit will include a replacement battery, a purpose‑designed screwdriver, plastic tweezers, a plastic spudger for safely prying open the housing, and double‑sided tape to secure the battery.
Those components are intended to let owners complete the swap without specialized electronics tools.
Functionally, Nintendo’s documentation notes that the internal battery in the replaceable‑battery Joy‑Con is physically a bit larger than the cell used in current Joy‑Con controllers, but the external dimensions of the controllers remain unchanged.
The new battery sits in a compartment that becomes accessible after removing the Joy‑Con’s rear cover, making the replacement a matter of simple disassembly rather than soldering or board‑level repair.
The arrival of a replaceable battery option marks a change in design philosophy for Nintendo’s handheld controller line, responding to long‑standing user interest in repairability and longevity.
While Nintendo has not announced a firm retail launch date, the company has indicated the new Joy‑Con models will be available in Summer 2026 in Europe.
For Nintendo Switch owners tracking upcoming hardware and accessory updates, the support documentation provides concrete, verifiable details about the replacement process and the official parts kit that will accompany the redesigned Joy‑Con controllers.
