Nintendo will repair broken Switch controllers for free for a lifetime. In addition, the Japanese games group offers free repair of all drift or response problems of the Joy-Con controllers, even after the normal manufacturer’s expired warranty.
An agreement has been reached on this with the European Commission and consumer organizations, the committee reports and also confirms the regulator Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
The consumer clubs sounded the alarm in Brussels about recurring technical problems with Nintendo Switch after receiving almost 25,000 consumer complaints until January 2021. There was a loss of control when playing games on the game computer. The game character moved without touching the controller joysticks anyway. The problem with Joy-Con controllers drifting has been around since the launch of the original Switch console in 2017 and has not been fixed on newer versions such as Nintendo Switch Lite consoles.
Until now, duped consumers have usually been unable to have defective Joy-Con controllers repaired free of charge, even within the warranty period. However, that will now change, Nintendo has promised.
The free repairs will be carried out regardless of the cause, such as a defect or wear and tear, and also after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired, the company promises. “We are pleased with the result of this joint action,” says an ACM spokeswoman. “This is good news for consumers, but also for the environment. This prevents devices from having to be thrown away or replaced.”