New Switch 2 console or controllers possible after Nintendo registers EU designs

After Nintendo’s latest fiscal report included a jump in R&D expenses, there are more signs that new hardware will arrive soon. Nintendo Patents Watch noted that the company registered four mysterious designs on the EUIPO website. The sealed text or images could reveal a Switch 2 console variation, controllers, or accessories.

What EUIPO records signal

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) allows manufacturers to submit protected designs. Rivals are then unable to use the same ideas or branding with their products. Unfortunately, the filings registered on May 29th are temporarily confidential. Still, past activity from the gaming giant provides clues.

The records are numbered 015143440-0001, 015143440-0002, 015143440-0003, and 015143440-0004. That implies Nintendo is preparing multiple SKUs for the same product. The explanation could be as simple as different colorways for a controller or accessory.

Patents Watch detailed how earlier filings predated the launch of Nintendo accessories. The Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip, which enables Switch Pro-like functionality, is one example. Other registrations predicted the LABO Vehicle and VR Kits, as well as a canceled iteration of the Alarmo clock.

Is a new Nintendo handheld looming?

One popular guess on social media is an updated Ring Fit, but that may require a new Adventure game. The company could also be readying refreshed versions of its Switch 2 console. In January 2026, a dataminer found traces of an unfamiliar product code on the Nintendo Account portal site. Speculation was that it identified a Switch 2 Lite or a Switch 2 OLED.

Following the price increase, Nintendo may be anxious to unveil a cheaper Lite alternative to the handheld. Even so, rising component costs have made it a perilous time to introduce hardware. Regardless, considering the history of past systems, variations are likely inevitable.

The manufacturer is also rumored to address EU right-to-repair regulations. In March, reports emerged that it was tweaking the Switch 2 design to facilitate easier battery replacement. The changes may not be exclusive to the Switch 2 console, with critics complaining about the repairability of the Pro Controller.