Nintendo has confirmed it will continue selling the original Switch in Australia and other markets outside Europe, after the company’s European arm revealed plans to pull the ageing console family from sale next year.

Nintendo of Europe said the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED will remain available throughout 2026, but will no longer be sold to retailers from mid-February 2027.

The move had raised questions over whether Nintendo was preparing to phase out the original Switch globally, nearly a decade after the hybrid console first launched in March 2017.

However, Nintendo has now clarified that the European decision does not apply worldwide, meaning Australia, along with markets such as North America and Japan, is not currently part of the withdrawal.

“We plan to continue selling Nintendo Switch outside of regions where Nintendo of Europe conducts business,” a Nintendo spokesperson told IGN and VGC.

The European change is believed to be tied to incoming EU rules requiring portable electronic devices to feature batteries that are more easily replaceable by users.

Nintendo is preparing revised versions of the Switch 2 and some accessories for Europe later this year to comply with the legislation, but the original Switch hardware will not receive the same redesign.

Nintendo said the Switch 2 revisions will bring minor changes, including slight increases in weight and small reductions in battery capacity.

The original Switch remains an important product for Nintendo, offering a cheaper entry point for players while Switch 2 continues to build momentum. It is also still receiving new games, including Rhythm Heaven Groove.

The console is close to becoming the best-selling games machine of all time.

As of March 31, Nintendo had sold 155.92 million Switch units globally, putting it within reach of Sony’s PlayStation 2, which sits at around 160 million.

The Switch’s European exit will come just before its 10th anniversary, marking the clearest sign yet that Nintendo is beginning to wind down the platform in some regions, even as it keeps the console alive in Australia and other key markets.