Good news for Nintendo Switch players in the UK and EEA! Nintendo has announced that they will now fix all Joy-Cons suffering from drift, even if they're out of warranty.
Nintendo has announced a new policy that it will repair all Joy-Con controllers suffering from Joy-Con drift in the EEA and UK, even if they’re out of warranty. The company has expanded its North American policy to cover the European Economic Area (EEA), which consists of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
What Is Joy-Con Drift?
Joy-Con drift is a problem with the Joy-Con controllers used with the Nintendo Switch console. It causes the joystick to register movement even when it is not being touched, resulting in unintended movement on-screen. The issue has been present since the launch of the console in 2017, with reports of it affecting thousands of customers. The problem has persisted even after revisions were made to the Joy-Con internals.
How Has Joy-Con Drift Affected Customers?
Joy-Con drift has been a persistent issue for Nintendo since the launch of the Nintendo Switch. It has affected the gameplay experience of customers, causing frustration and disappointment. Many customers have had to replace their Joy-Con controllers or have them repaired at their own expense. This has led to consumer complaints and legal action in some cases.
Nintendo’s Response to Joy-Con Drift
Nintendo has faced criticism for its initial response to the Joy-Con drift problem. Some clients have expressed dissatisfaction that the business did not treat the problem seriously. However, the company has since implemented a repair program for the issue in North America, and now in the EEA and UK.
As per the new policy, Nintendo will repair all Joy-Con controllers suffering from Joy-Con drift in the EEA and UK, even if they’re out of warranty. The service is free and will continue "until further notice". The only exceptions are if the problem was caused by a third-party accessory, by accidental damage or negligence, or if someone had previously opened up the controller to try to repair the stick.
UK Consumer Group Which? Urges Investigation
In 2022, UK consumer group Which? urged Nintendo to investigate the Joy-Con drift issue. The group received more than 5,500 responses from Nintendo Switch users who experienced the problem. It found that 39% of respondents had experienced Joy-Con drift, with half of those experiencing the issue within the first year of owning their console.
The group also found that 86% of customers who experienced Joy-Con drift had to pay for repairs, with an average cost of £24. Nintendo's new policy to repair drifting Joy-Cons for free in the UK and EEA will come as a relief to many customers who previously had to pay for repairs.
Joy-Con Drift Repair Center Inundated with Faulty Controllers
A former supervisor at a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con repair center in the US claimed that the company was inundated with faulty controllers. An ex-employee told Kotaku that at one point, "easily thousands of Joy-Cons were coming through each week." They added: "We ended up having to set up an entire new workspace just for Joy-Con repair."
Nintendo's decision to repair all Joy-Con controllers suffering from Joy-Con drift in the EEA and UK, even if they’re out of warranty, is a welcome move for customers who have experienced this issue. Many customers have experienced frustration and disappointment as a result of the issue, which has persisted since the Nintendo Switch's release in 2017. Customers' worries should be taken seriously by businesses, and they should respond quickly. It's a good thing that Nintendo has a repair program.