Nintendo, a leading Japanese gaming company, has agreed to repair unresponsive console controllers beyond the legal guarantee period for free, according to the European Commission. This decision comes after the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and nine national consumer groups filed complaints with the EU executive in 2021, claiming that Nintendo’s Switch console deteriorated too quickly due to a technical issue known as the ‘Joy-Con drift.’ This issue affected both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite consoles.
The European Commission stated that Nintendo has agreed to address the problem by offering to repair defective Joy-Con controllers free of charge, regardless of whether the issue is due to a defect or wear and tear. The company has also agreed to provide this service even if the manufacturer’s guarantee has expired.
BEUC has welcomed the announcement but criticized it as a temporary solution. BEUC’s Deputy Director General, Ursula Pachl, stated that “this is only a temporary fix that allows consumers to have their defective products repaired for free. However, Nintendo can still sell the console with the potential bug.”
This decision by Nintendo to repair unresponsive console controllers for free beyond the legal guarantee period is a step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen whether the company will take further action to prevent this technical issue from occurring in the first place.