The Nintendo Switch's days are numbered—but what is that number?

Here's something that might surprise you — Nintendo is officially phasing out the original Switch in Europe by next February because of new regulations demanding easily replaceable batteries. Now, Kyle Orland from Ars reports that this isn’t about a hardware redesign, but a regional move — outside Europe, the Switch will still be available. But here’s where it gets interesting: historically, Nintendo’s consoles tend to fade out after about nine years. Yet, the Switch has defied those norms, sticking around far longer, thanks to its massive popularity. According to Orland, this resilience suggests the Switch could stay relevant well into its second decade of life, especially with the launch of the Switch 2 likely looming. So what does this mean for you? It’s a sign that even as new systems arrive, the old ones can have surprising staying power — if they’re popular enough. The takeaway? The end of a product’s prime isn’t always immediate. Sometimes, it’s just a long, slow fade.