The Council of the European Union has confirmed new laws to regulate batteries in the continent. According to the European Union, replaceable batteries should become the standard from 2027 onwards.
Following this law, upcoming handhelds, such as the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch successors, will also require replaceable batteries by 2027.
Why it matters: Dead batteries can contain many valuable resources. This move would ensure they are recycled instead of being wasted.
Regarding the law’s application to gaming handhelds, a representative confirmed they would be included.
Since the law will not go into effect before 2027, companies like Nintendo and Valve have plenty of time to implement changes. The date also means that companies can release hardware without replaceable batteries within the next three years.
The EU believes this change is essential for consumers. Moreover, batteries have a vital role in the decarbonization process, and the EU wants a zero-emissions mode of transport in the coming years.
Previously, the EU approved laws to enforce similar regulations for smartphones. In the coming years, demand for raw materials to create batteries is expected to rise considerably.
Therefore, this move will contribute to the recycling of batteries and help meet this demand. The European Union has also forced Apple to comply with the laws of USB Type-C ports for the next iPhone lineup.
In addition to the environmental benefits, this move would be consumer-friendly for the handheld gaming market. Dying batteries are a common concern for owners, but allowing users to access these components easily would eliminate much of this concern.
Nonetheless, the Nintendo Switch successor is expected to release sooner, potentially arriving next year. However, Nintendo is known to release various revisions over time, and a future revision is likely to include replaceable batteries.
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[News Reporter]
Malik Usman is student of Computer Science focused on using his knowledge to produce detailed and informative articles covering the latest findings from the tech industry. His expertise allows him to cover subjects like processors, graphics cards, and more. In addition to the latest hardware, Malik can be found writing about the gaming industry from time to time. He is fond of games like God of War, and his work has been mentioned on websites like Whatculture, VG247, IGN, and Eurogamer.
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