A Nintendo global policy change extends free repair of controllers that are experiencing the dreaded Joy-Con drift.

Update22/07/2024, 17:09

If your game character seems to be moving in a direction of its own accord, you are probably affected by the annoying phenomenon known as “stick drift”. Hardly any current controller seems to be completely free from stick drift. But the problem occurred particularly frequently with the analog sticks of Nintendo’s Joy-Con controllers, often after only a few hours of use.

Nintendo offers free repairs for Joy-Con controllers that are experiencing drift, 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 last year: “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.”

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.

Are you affected by Joy-Con drift? This is what you need to do to get it repaired

Nintendo is now making it very easy for players in the EU, UK and Switzerland to get their Joy-Cons repaired for free. If you experience Joy-Con drift, you can request a repair of your controllers via a Nintendo support page. Here are the individual steps required:

Visit Nintendo’s support page
Visit this Nintendo support page and see if the tips suggested there can resolve your stick drift issue.
Request a repair
If the tips don’t help you, scroll down and click on “No, I would like to register a repair” or follow this link to register a repair.
Select the Joy-Con in the menu
Click on “I only want to send accessories” and select the affected Joy-Con from the list.
Fill out the form
Fill out the repair form carefully, and give all details.
Package and send
You will then receive a return label. Follow Nintendo’s packaging instructions and pack and ship the Joy-Con as indicated.

What then?

Nintendo will then repair your Joy-Con free of charge within six to seven working days. You can easily check the current processing status here using the repair order number (RMA).

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.

https://youtu.be/fTK4INVleko