A device believed to be the battery-swappable Nintendo Switch 2, which is being marketed in Europe, received certification from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 8. This has become a hot topic following a post by an overseas Bluesky user who tracks Nintendo’s patents and certification information.
The model number for the revised European version, “BEE-001(-01),” was submitted to the FCC
Nintendo had previously announced that, to comply with new European battery regulations, it would gradually transition the Switch 2 console and various controllers to revised models that allow users to replace the batteries. However, this applies only to regions where Nintendo of Europe operates, and no plans for release in other regions have been announced.
Label documents registered in the FCC database list the model number as “BEE-001(-01),” which is believed to be the model number for the revised version of the console sold in Europe.The model number for the current Switch 2 is “BEE-001,” and the revised version adds “(-01)” to the end.
In a post dated October 2, the same user also reported developments in Japan.According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ database of technical standards compliance certifications, the construction design certification for the GameCube controller for the Switch 2 (model number BEE-021) was updated on September 10, with “BEE-021(-01)” added to the model list. The same post also mentions that for the Nintendo 64 Controller for Switch (model number HAC-043), “HAC-043(-01)” was approved under Canada’s wireless equipment certification on July 22.Since both models have “(-01)” appended to the end of their model numbers—just like the console itself—it is possible that both are versions compatible with battery replacement.
However, both battery-replaceable controllers are scheduled for release in Europe in early 2027 and have not yet gone on sale. Whether “(-01)” indicates a battery-replaceable model remains purely speculative at this point, and Nintendo has not made any announcements regarding a Japanese release. We’ll be keeping an eye on future updates to see if the transition—including the console itself—will proceed in Japan as well.
