New EU Law Requires Removable Batteries in Handheld Consoles by 2027

By 2027, all portable gaming consoles will need to feature removable batteries to adhere to a newly implemented European Union regulation. The European Council approved this new law on July 10, aiming to establish sustainable battery practices. As part of this regulation, manufacturers must ensure that batteries can be accessed using standard or specialized tools and provide users with instructions and safety guidelines. Although the regulation does not explicitly mention portable gaming devices, an EU representative confirmed that gaming handhelds are included. Similarly, phones and tablets will also be required to have removable batteries by 2027. The EU's goal is to minimize the environmental and social impacts associated with batteries throughout their lifespan. To achieve this, the EU has set waste collection targets for battery manufacturers, with a minimum of 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030. Furthermore, there will be a mandatory minimum requirement for recycled content in all batteries, with lithium batteries having the highest targets - 50% recovery from waste batteries by 2027 and 80% by 2030. Initially proposed in December 2022, this regulation appears to apply only to future models of handheld consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. Earlier this year, the European Parliament voted in favor of stricter regulations for the video game industry and its business practices.