It’s the end of a long soap opera. In agreement with the European Commission, Nintendo has undertaken to pay for the repair of defective Joy-Cons, even when they are no longer guaranteed.
Could this be the end of the soap opera linked to the Joy-Con Drift? From a legal point of view, yes. In a press release published on April 4, the European Commission formalized excellent news: Nintendo has undertaken to repair, free of charge, any Joy-Con suffering from a “ stick responsiveness bug », even outside the warranty period (two years, in France). This official page, visible on the Nintendo website, stipulates the conditions for taking advantage of it.
The free repair of defective Joy-Cons was already recorded in France, under pressure from the UFC-Que Choisir association (Nintendo had initially limited free interventions to models still under warranty). The intervention of the European high authorities seals once and for all Nintendo’s policy vis-à-vis the problems encountered by thousands of players. The Joy-Con has a proven defect, and the multinational has no choice but to offer an unusual commercial gesture.
Legally, Nintendo is obligated to repair your drifting Joy-Con
One of the arguments used by the European Commission to force Nintendo to keep such commitments is obviously the damage suffered by the owners of the Switch (more than 25,000 complaints received by the European Bureau of Consumers’ Unions, in January 2021) . She also puts forward the ecological argument: As the problem renders controllers unusable, consumers who are unable to repair them easily or free of charge are forced to replace them, resulting in avoidable e-waste. »
Some restrictions will apply regarding the free nature of the repair. Nintendo will refuse to intervene free of charge if:
- The bug is caused by another accessory;
- The Joy-Con has been used for commercial purposes (including rental);
- The bug is linked to improper use of the Joy-Con which, for example, led to its deterioration;
- The Joy-Con has been opened, modified or repaired.
In short, some cases may lead to negotiations with Nintendo. But, most of the time, the Japanese firm will repair your Joy-Con free of charge and you will no longer need to check the date of purchase to find out if it is still guaranteed.
While Nintendo’s obligation is great news, it’s not the end of Joy-Con Drift. The defect, fully assumed, corresponds to a design impossible to rethink. Nintendo’s commitment is a protectionist measure, not a long-term solution. Moreover, there will be no repair costs ” until further notice “. To send a request, click on this link.
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