Nintendo has agreed to pay a fine of 35 million euros ($40 million) to settle a French claim regarding faulty controllers on its Switch consoles, as announced on Monday [1]. The claim was initiated by a French consumer advocacy group in 2020, which accused Nintendo of 'planned obsolescence,' alleging that the company was aware that some controllers were failing prematurely [1]. The issue, commonly referred to as 'Joy-Con drift,' involved toggles on the original Switch controllers becoming stuck in one direction even when not being touched, leading to thousands of customer complaints [1].
France's consumer protection agency, DGCCRF, found that Nintendo Europe had not adequately informed consumers about the recurring problem, despite the Switch being on the market since 2017 [1]. According to a statement from the Commerce Ministry and the court in Nanterre, Nintendo only commented on the issue in 2020, rather than as soon as it became aware of the malfunctions [1]. The report further criticized Nintendo's communication as 'patchy,' which resulted in many customers purchasing new controllers instead of seeking free repairs or replacements through customer service [1].
In response to the ongoing criticism, Nintendo pledged in 2023 to repair or replace faulty controllers at no cost, even if the devices were no longer under warranty [1]. The settlement and fine highlight regulatory scrutiny over consumer rights and product transparency in the gaming industry [1].
CONCLUSION
Nintendo's agreement to pay a €35 million fine in France underscores the importance of timely consumer communication and product support. The case may prompt greater transparency and after-sales service commitments from gaming hardware manufacturers moving forward.