CONSUMER watchdog Which? has found that Joy-Con controllers feature a mechanical issue, urging Nintendo to compensate customers.
The company tested Joy-Con purchased between 2017 and 2019, and confirmed that an issue with the build quality made them likely to fail.
Newer models like the Nintendo Switch OLED don’t have this issue.
Up to 40% of Nintendo Switch controllers purchased in this time frame developed a fault known as ‘stick drift’.
This is when the analogue sticks move without input from the player, making some games unplayable.
Nintendo offered to fix Joy-Con that suffered with this problem, but has never offered players compensation for the issue.
Many customers simply purchased a new set of controllers, which retails for £60 ($70).
By dismantling a number of faulty Joy-Con, Which? found that the guard put in place to prevent dust and grime getting inside the controller was inadequate.
This led to the circuit board for the analogue stick suffering from wear and tear, leading to irreparable damage.
Since then Nintendo has changed the way Joy-Con are made, and it seems that stick drift is much less likely to happen.
For those who purchase older consoles though, the issue remains a concern.
A press release reads: “Which?’s previous research indicated not only that Joy-Con drift is a widespread problem but significant numbers bought a replacement controller at their own expense.
“There were also some people who reported that they contacted Nintendo for a replacement or fix but did not receive a free repair or replacement Joy-Con controller.”
The company is urging Nintendo to offer a free replacement service, and to compensate customers who have been negatively affected by the issue.
Which? also wanted to remind customers that they are still able to sent their Joy-Con off for repair, even if their warranty is no longer valid.
In response Nintendo has said: “The percentage of Joy-Con controllers that have been reported as experiencing issues with the analogue stick in the past is small, and we have been making continuous improvements to the Joy-Con analogue stick since its launch in 2017.
“We expect all our hardware to perform as designed, and, if anything falls short of this goal, we always encourage consumers to contact Nintendo customer support.
“[They] will be happy to openly and leniently resolve any consumer issues related to the Joy-Con controllers’ analogue sticks, including in cases where the warranty may no longer apply.”
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
