Consumer advocacy group calls on Nintendo for Joy-Con drift ahead of Switch OLED launch

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

The issue of Joy-Con “drift” and controller failure rate – in which the stick inputs stop working with precision – has been a smoldering topic since the Switch launched in 2017. This has led to some class actions and quite a bit of pressure. on Nintendo, and in the summer of 2019, it emerged that repairs were starting to be offered free of charge, even outside of warranty periods. This isn’t necessarily the case in all countries and territories, but it seems to be a relatively common policy for Nintendo to deal with Joy-Con issues for free.

However, this is not enough to satisfy all advocacy groups, due to the persistent argument that Nintendo continues to sell a product with known and constant flaws. Euroconsumers is a group that represents five national consumer organizations and issued a press release challenging Nintendo with 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, due out October 8, 2021, shows an unresolved technical issue with its controllers – an issue commonly referred to as “Joy-Con Drift” – that prevents gamers from playing properly . Nintendo is well aware of this flaw. Still, he still plans to roll out the new Switch with the old issue. Euroconsumers requests accounts from Nintendo.

… This flaw has already been raised with Nintendo. First, in January 2020, Test Achats / Test Aankoop, the Belgian national organization of Euroconsumers, sent a letter of formal notice to Nintendo Europe GmbH calling on the company to repair all defective products free of charge and to communicate publicly about the fault.

In January 2021, BEUC, the European coordination group of 46 independent consumer organizations, launched an external alert to the CPC network regarding a widespread infringement of the European dimension of EU consumer law, linked to obsolescence premature of the Nintendo Switch.

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

Nonetheless, Nintendo has taken no action to remedy the flaw or alert consumers. It even emits a new OLED Switch with the exact same Joy-Con design, with the exact same inevitable flaw. Meanwhile, Nintendo continues to emphasize the quality and versatility of Joy-Con in its commercials.

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

Euroconsumers declares having sent a letter to Nintendo with four requests: adequately inform consumers of abuses and clarify an expected life cycle on packaging; fully respect the legal guarantee of the product without burden of proof or cost to consumers; provide clear contact details to Nintendo to resolve the Joy-Con issue; resolve the flaw to ensure a “more durable version of the controllers”. Euroconsumers also specifies that it will participate in the dialogue and tests with Nintendo.

Of course, there has been a lot of attention on the Joy-Con controllers which has led to various formal complaints like this; Nintendo chairman Shuntaro Furukawa even apologized to investors in the summer of 2020. Beyond some speculation at different times, however, there is little evidence to suggest a noticeable improvement in the design or reliability of the devices. Joy-Con lately.

Nintendo’s approach to the matter has often been to say very little, and it can be said that whatever it is going to do is awaiting legal resolutions. With the arrival of the OLED model, however, the Joy-Con drift benefits from renewed airtime.

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

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