What’s inside the new Joy‑Con — and how you actually swap the battery
Nintendo quietly posted support pages that peel back the shell on its updated Joy‑Con controllers. These versions are built to comply with upcoming EU rules that push manufacturers to make internal batteries replaceable by consumers.
Don’t expect a simple flap or pop‑out tray. The controllers won’t offer direct external access — instead Nintendo will ship a replacement kit you request that includes a PH00 Phillips screwdriver, plastic tweezers, a pry tool, double‑sided tape and a new battery.
The swap itself is DIY but hands‑on: take out four tiny screws from the back, carefully split the two halves, pry the old battery free, unplug its cable with the plastic tweezers, and stick the replacement onto the supplied tape. Nintendo’s guides are detailed and they explicitly say to use the supplied tools so you don’t nick the shell, wiring, or circuit board.
Good news for play sessions: the new Joy‑Cons use a battery with the same capacity as the old models, so don’t expect any change in runtime.
Why this is actually important (and what else is coming)
This isn’t just a firmware tweak — it’s a move toward easier repairs and less e‑waste. For players, that means less chance of dead controllers ending up in a drawer or landfill when the battery fades.
There are tradeoffs. Replacing the cell isn’t as simple as popping open a phone; you need to request the kit and be careful during the operation. Some in the community will cheer the improved repairability, while others will grumble that Nintendo didn’t include a simple user‑access hatch and still requires a kit.
Nintendo also confirmed a timeline: a Switch 2 with a replaceable battery is due this fall, followed by Joy‑Con 2 and a Switch 2 Pro Controller arriving in Europe this winter. Classic controller updates for N64 and GameCube pads are slated for 2027. Most of these are keeping their current battery sizes, but Nintendo said the Switch 2’s battery will be about 1% smaller and the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s pack roughly 16% smaller — small changes, but worth noting if you obsess over minutes of playtime.
Bottom line: gameplay won’t suffer from the Joy‑Con swap (battery life stays the same), but players get more repair options and a greener product. If you plan to open one, follow Nintendo’s instructions and use the right tools — or hand it to someone who enjoys tiny screws and fragile ribbon cables.
