Opening Summary
Nintendo has published official instructions for replacing the battery in revised European versions of its right Joy-Con controller and says a matching battery-and-tool kit will be sold through the Nintendo Store in the future. The development gives owners of compatible controllers another option when battery performance declines: replace the worn battery rather than discard and replace the entire controller. The change also illustrates how European battery rules are encouraging manufacturers to design products with longer, more repairable lives.
Replacement Snapshot
Product:
Revised Nintendo Switch right Joy-Con controller
Replaceable Component:
Rechargeable battery, model HAC-006(-01)
Compatible Controller:
Joy-Con (R), model HAC-016(-01)
Why Replacement May Be Needed:
Rechargeable batteries gradually lose capacity after repeated charging and use.
Replacement Alternative:
Replace the controller’s battery rather than replacing the complete Joy-Con.
Availability:
Nintendo says the revised controller and official replacement kit will be available through the Nintendo Store. The company’s support page currently describes the kit as becoming available “in the future.”
Estimated Difficulty:
Moderate. Nintendo’s official procedure involves opening the controller, disconnecting the old battery, replacing adhesive and carefully reassembling the device.
Included Tools:
Replacement battery, PH00 Phillips screwdriver, plastic tweezers, plastic spudger and double-sided tape.
Important Limitation:
Not every Joy-Con has a user-replaceable battery. Owners must confirm that their controller is a revised HAC-015(-01) or HAC-016(-01) model before following the procedure.
Official Replacement Instructions:
Official Model-Identification Guide:
Nintendo’s official support page confirms the compatible controller and battery model numbers, included tools, safety warnings and replacement procedure.
Repair vs Replace
Repair may make sense when:
- The controller otherwise works correctly.
- Battery life is the primary problem.
- The controller is a compatible revised model.
- The official replacement kit is available.
- The owner is comfortable following Nintendo’s safety instructions or using a qualified repair provider.
Full replacement may make sense when:
- The controller has additional hardware damage.
- Buttons, sticks, electronics, or the housing are also failing.
- The controller is not one of the compatible revised models.
- Safe replacement parts are unavailable.
- The repair cost approaches the price of a replacement controller.
Based on Original Reporting By
Publication:
GamesRadar+
Author:
Rosalie Newcombe
Article Title:
“Nintendo will soon provide battery replacement kits for its revised Joy-Cons to further comply with EU regulations”
Published:
July 20, 2026
Original article URL:
Representative image of a game controller being repaired. Nintendo has published instructions for replacing the battery in compatible revised Joy-Con controllers sold in Europe. The photograph does not depict Nintendo’s official battery kit or replacement procedure. Photo by Timur Zh via Pexels.
The Replacement Option
A rechargeable battery can become the weakest part of an otherwise functional electronic product. When the battery no longer holds enough power, consumers often face an expensive and wasteful choice: replace the entire device even though its buttons, housing, circuitry and other components may still work.
Nintendo is beginning to offer a different option for certain Joy-Con controllers sold in Europe.
The company has published official instructions showing consumers how to replace the battery in the revised right Joy-Con model HAC-016(-01). Nintendo says the instructions are intended for use with its planned HAC-006(-01) Battery Replacement Kit, which will be sold through the Nintendo Store in the future.
The official kit is expected to contain the replacement battery and the tools needed for the procedure: a PH00 Phillips screwdriver, plastic tweezers, a plastic spudger and double-sided adhesive tape.
Nintendo’s procedure requires owners to remove four screws, open the controller housing carefully, loosen the battery from its adhesive, disconnect its cables, install fresh adhesive and connect the replacement battery before reassembling the controller.
Although Nintendo provides detailed written and video guidance, the process is more involved than opening a simple battery compartment. The company warns that battery replacement should be performed by an adult and that an incompatible, damaged or overheated lithium-ion battery could create a risk of fire, explosion, injury or damage to the controller.
The option also applies only to revised controller models. Nintendo says the right Joy-Con HAC-016(-01) contains a user-replaceable battery, while the older HAC-016 does not. Revised controllers can also be identified through their markings and serial-number information. Owners should use Nintendo’s official identification guide before purchasing parts or opening a controller.
The distinction matters. A guide written for one version of a product should never be assumed to apply safely to another version bearing a similar name.
The new Joy-Con design forms part of a larger move toward replaceable batteries in products sold in Europe. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 generally requires portable batteries incorporated into products to be readily removable and replaceable by consumers, subject to defined exceptions. The relevant requirements apply beginning February 18, 2027.
Under the regulation, a portable battery is considered removable by an end user when it can be removed using commercially available tools and without proprietary tools, solvents or heat—unless necessary specialized tools are supplied without charge. The law also requires covered replacement batteries to remain available as spare parts for at least five years after the final unit of a product model is placed on the market.
For consumers, that could change how the useful life of electronic products is measured. A controller would no longer necessarily be considered finished simply because its original battery has deteriorated.
There are still practical questions. Nintendo had not announced a specific availability date or price for the official battery kit when the source article was published. The replacement option is tied to revised European models, and consumers elsewhere should not assume that their controllers are compatible.
The repair also requires care. People who are uncomfortable opening electronics may prefer to contact Nintendo or a qualified repair provider rather than perform the work themselves.
Even with those limitations, the development demonstrates a useful replacement principle: when one component wears out, replacing that component may preserve the rest of the product.
For Replacement.com readers, the most important question is therefore not merely, “Where can I buy another controller?”
It is:
“Can I safely replace the failed part and continue using the product I already own?”
Nintendo’s revised Joy-Con suggests that manufacturers may increasingly be expected to help consumers answer yes.
Why This Matters
Replacing an entire electronic product because its battery has worn down can cost consumers more money and turn working components into electronic waste.
A replaceable battery can extend the useful life of a product, but repairability depends on more than whether a device can technically be opened. Consumers also need:
- compatible replacement parts;
- clear model-identification information;
- safe instructions;
- reasonably available tools;
- continued parts availability;
- and accurate warnings about battery hazards.
Nintendo’s approach brings several of those pieces together. It identifies the compatible model, specifies the replacement battery, provides detailed instructions and plans to sell a kit containing the necessary tools.
The larger importance extends beyond gaming. European battery rules could influence how manufacturers design phones, tablets, controllers, appliances and other rechargeable devices. Consumers may gradually gain more opportunities to replace batteries and other worn components instead of replacing complete products.
Learn More
Nintendo’s official right Joy-Con battery-replacement procedure
This page identifies the compatible right Joy-Con model, replacement battery, required tools, safety warnings and step-by-step procedure.
Nintendo’s official model-identification guide
This page helps owners determine whether their controller contains a user-replaceable battery.
European Commission battery-policy overview
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/batteries_en
This official European Commission page explains the objectives and implementation of the EU’s battery legislation.
Complete EU Batteries Regulation
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1542
This is the complete official text of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries.
European Commission repair-of-goods overview
https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/consumer-protection-law/directive-repair-goods_en
This official page explains the European Union’s broader effort to promote product repair and reuse rather than premature replacement.
Source Note
This Replacement.com article is an independently written summary and analysis based on original reporting by Rosalie Newcombe for GamesRadar+, official product-support information published by Nintendo and official European Union information concerning battery removability and replaceability.
Replacement.com is not affiliated with Nintendo, GamesRadar+, Future Publishing, Pexels or the European Union.
Product models, regional availability, kit contents, prices and sales dates may change. Owners should verify that their controller is a compatible revised model and follow the current official Nintendo instructions before attempting a battery replacement. Lithium-ion batteries may create fire, explosion or injury risks if damaged, incorrectly installed or replaced with an incompatible battery.
Complete References and Citations
Original news reporting
Newcombe, Rosalie. “Nintendo will soon provide battery replacement kits for its revised Joy-Cons to further comply with EU regulations.” GamesRadar+. Published July 20, 2026.
Official Nintendo replacement instructions
Nintendo UK. “Joy-Con (R) (HAC-016(-01)) Battery Replacement Procedure.”
Official Nintendo model-identification guide
Nintendo UK. “How to identify whether your Joy-Con controller contains a user-replaceable battery.”
Official European Commission battery overview
European Commission. “Batteries.”
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/batteries_en
Official European Union regulation
European Parliament and Council of the European Union. “Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries.” Official Journal of the European Union. Published July 28, 2023.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1542
Official European Commission repair overview
European Commission. “Directive on repair of goods.”
https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/consumer-protection-law/directive-repair-goods_en
Featured photograph
Timur Zh. “Close-up black and white image showing hands repairing a game controller at a workbench.” Pexels.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-close-up-of-game-controller-repair-36027094/
