Yahoo Finance Nintendo: Tests on faulty console controllers point to 'design flaws'
A UK product testing organisation has found evidence that chronic Nintendo Switch (7974.T) controller problems are likely due to a mechanical fault, pointing to design flaws.
Consumer group Which? has called on the video game maker to act urgently to fix the issue and assist affected consumers more proactively.
The Classic version of the Nintendo Switch console has been dogged by reports of so-called "Joy-Con drift" since its release in 2017.
Joy-Con drift occurs when the detachable Joy-Con controllers appear to move the on-screen controls without the user doing anything.
According to Which?, the problem can make some Nintendo video games unplayable and means many people have been left out of pocket through having to buy expensive replacement Joy-Con controllers, which can cost around £70.
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: “Nintendo Switch ‘drift’ has been plaguing gamers for years now and we’ve found evidence that mechanical issues are likely to blame.
“Nintendo must get a grip on the problem and provide free repairs, compensation, refunds or replacements for any consumers who have been impacted by this issue since the launch of the console.”
Which? sent faulty Nintendo controllers to their labs for testing, where they reportedly discovered mechanical issues and design flaws.
The Which? lab report said: "Whilst there are variances between the construction of the individual controllers, the common features noted are the wear on the joystick slider contact points, present on all of the plastic circuit boards, and the ingress of dust and contamination.
"It may therefore be the case that the drift issue is caused by the wear to the circuit board or a combination of this wear together with the dust/contamination ingress."
Nintendo 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, who 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."
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If you have a Nintendo Switch controller with a fault, Which? advised users contact Nintendo to see if you can get it repaired, even if the console is no longer in warranty.
You will need to book a repair on Nintendo’s support site, and then you will receive a reference number and a free shipping label in your email inbox.
Print this shipping label and package up your Switch to send to Nintendo, including proof of purchase if you have it.
Which? said that this repair should be free if your console is in warranty.
It has been reported that Nintendo told Which? that it will take an "open and lenient" approach to out of warranty repairs, although it is not clear how that will work in practice.
