Players who experience problems with their Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller can now get it fixed for free for life. Manufacturer Nintendo, the European Commission and many consumer organizations have agreed to this. “After long negotiations, the company is meeting the demand for a structural solution for consoles by offering a lifetime warranty with free repair,” says Testaankoop.
The problems with the consoles surfaced shortly after the Nintendo Switch console was released six years ago. Players reported that the controllers began to “drift”, causing on-screen characters to take on lives of their own and move without the player touching the joystick. A call from the Buy Test yielded over 1,200 reports from players.
In the US, players were already promised free refunds in 2018, but players in Europe have had to wait until now. Subsequently, the European umbrella organization of consumer organizations BEUC filed a formal complaint with the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, which launched a formal investigation in 2021.
Avoid unnecessary waste
Two years later, Nintendo agrees that defective consoles with the problem can be repaired free of charge for life. Proof of purchase is no longer required. If you want to take advantage of the warranty, you can contact Nintendo online.
“This will avoid the disposal of untreated controllers and unnecessary waste,” said European Commissioner Didier Reynders. “We expect companies to really improve the repairability of their products, in line with the Commission’s proposal on the right to compensation.”
