Consumer Advocacy Group Asks Nintendo To Deviate From Joy-Con Ahead Of Switch OLED Launch

With tomorrow’s launch of the OLED model of the Nintendo Switch, consumers will have the option to pay $ 50 more (with regional equivalents) for a system with notable improvements over the other models: an improved and larger screen, a new foot of support, an updated base with an Ethernet port, more internal memory, etc. One thing that won’t be improved, based on the available evidence, is the Joy-Con controllers; as many can attest, that is a continuing source of disappointment.

The Joy-Con ‘drift’ issue and controller failure rate, where the stick inputs stop working accurately, has been a hot topic since the Switch was released in 2017. It has resulted in to class action lawsuits and a little pressure. at Nintendo, and in the summer of 2019 it emerged that repairs were beginning to be offered free of charge, even outside of warranty periods. It’s not necessarily the case in all countries and territories, but it seems to be relatively common policy for Nintendo to address Joy-Con issues at no cost.

However, that is not enough to satisfy all advocacy groups, due to the ongoing argument that Nintendo continues to sell a product with known and consistent defects. Euro consumers is a group representing five national consumer organizations and has issued a press release challenging Nintendo for its continued sales of existing Joy-Cons.

Here are some excerpts from the press release:

The new version of the Nintendo “Switch” console, the Switch OLED, scheduled for October 8, 2021, shows an unresolved glitch with its controllers, a problem commonly called “Joy-Con Drift,” which prevents gamers from play correctly. Nintendo is quite aware of this flaw. However, you still plan to deploy the new Switch with the above problem. Euroconsumers asks Nintendo for accounts.

… This flaw has previously been raised with Nintendo. First, in January 2020, Test Achats / Test Aankoop, the Belgian national organization for Euroconsumers, sent a formal notification letter to Nintendo Europe GmbH requesting the company to repair all defective products free of charge and to publicly communicate the default.

In January 2021, BEUC, the European group that brings together 46 independent consumer organizations, launched an external alert to the CPC network about a widespread violation of the Union dimension of EU consumer law, related to obsolescence premature Nintendo Switch.

In addition to this EU action, two class action actions have been initiated in the US and a Canadian company has filed a request to initiate class action.

However, Nintendo has not taken any action to remedy the flaw or alert consumers. It even puts out a new OLED Switch with the exact same Joy-Con design, with exactly the same inescapable flaw. Meanwhile, Nintendo continues to place a lot of emphasis on the quality and versatility of the Joy-Con in its advertisements.

This early obsolescence is not only unfair and damaging to consumers, but it also affects the environment, creating a pile of unnecessary and extremely polluting electronic waste.

Euroconsumers claims it sent a letter to Nintendo with four requests: properly inform consumers about drift and clarify the expected life cycle of packaging; fully respect the legal warranty of the product without burden of proof or cost to consumers; provide clear contact details at Nintendo to resolve the Joy-Con issue; resolve the flaw to ensure a “more sustainable version of drivers”. Euroconsumers also makes it clear that it will be participating in the dialogue and testing with Nintendo.

Of course, a lot of attention has been paid to the Joy-Con controllers which has led to several formal complaints like this; Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa even issued an apology to investors in the summer of 2020. However, beyond some speculation at different points, there is little evidence to suggest a notable improvement in the design or reliability of the Joy. -With in recent times.

Nintendo’s approach to the problem has often been to say very little, and it has arguably said everything it is going to do pending any legal resolution. However, with the arrival of the OLED model, the Joy-Con Drift is getting some fresh air time.

It’s also worth noting that Switch owners have come across multiple DIY Joy-Con fixes like this one, although this comes with its own challenges and risks.

Let us know what you think of the Euroconsumer feedback and indeed the ongoing Joy-Con issue ‘drift’.