A Nintendo global policy change extends free repair of controllers that are experiencing the dreaded Joy-Con drift.
Nintendo will now offer free repairs for Joy-Con controllers that are experiencing drift. The company made this announcement on their UK support page.
‘Drift’ is a problem that causes the analog sticks on the Joy-Con to move on their own, even when the player is not touching them. This can make it difficult to control games, and it can be very frustrating for players — you can probably imagine how many Joy-Cons are smashed each year!
Nintendo said: “Until further notice, Nintendo will not charge you in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK and Switzerland for the repair of the responsiveness syndrome irrespective of whether this is caused by a defect or by wear and tear.”
How to get your free repair?
Whilst Nintendo has been aware of the drift issue for some time, and they have offered repairs for affected controllers in some regions, this is the first time that they have offered free repairs in the UK.
To get your free repair, you’ll need to contact Nintendo customer support directly and provide proof of purchase (a receipt or invoice). You can then send your damaged Joy-Con controllers in for repair.
This is great news for players who have been affected by drift, and it’s also a good sign that Nintendo is finally taking the issue seriously.
Despite Nintendo’s efforts to address the issue through hardware revisions and repair programs, reports of Joy-Con drift continue to surface. The situation was further exacerbated in June 2022, when a former supervisor at a Joy-Con repair centre in the US claimed that the company was inundated with faulty controllers.
This revelation suggests that Joy-Con drift is a widespread and persistent problem, and that Nintendo has yet to find a permanent solution.
If you are a Switch owner, please be aware of this issue and contact Nintendo support if you experience Joy-Con drift. The company may be able to repair or replace affected controllers free of charge, unless it is a different problem.
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