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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 marked improvements over other models – an improved, larger screen and a new kickstand. , update the Ethernet docking station, no more internal memory, etc. The only thing that won’t be improved, based on the evidence available, are the Joy-Con controllers – as many can attest, that’s a constant source of disappointment.
The Joy-Con “drift” issue and controller failure rate – where the stick inputs precisely stop working – have been a hot topic since the Switch launched in 2017. This has led to group action and a little stress. On Nintendo, and in the summer of 2019, it appeared that repairs were starting to be offered for free, even outside of warranty periods. This is not necessarily the case in all countries and territories, but it seems to be a relatively common policy for Nintendo to take 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 proven flaws. Euro Consumers is a group representing 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:
Nintendo’s new version of Nintendo’s “Switch” console, the Switch OLED, slated for release on October 8, 2021, shows an unresolved technical issue with its consoles – an issue commonly referred to as “Joy-Con Drift” – that prevents players to play correctly to play. Nintendo is well aware of this flaw. However, he still plans to roll out the new key with the old version. Euro consumers order accounts from Nintendo.
… This flaw has already been mentioned with Nintendo. First, in January 2020, Test Achats / Test Aankoop, the Belgian national organization of European consumers, sent a formal notification letter to Nintendo Europe GmbH urging the company to repair all defective products free of charge and to publicly communicate the error. .
In January 2021, BEUC, the European coordinating group of 46 independent consumer organizations, issued an external alert to CPC regarding a widespread violation of the European dimension of EU consumer law, linked to early obsolescence of the Nintendo Switch.
In addition to this EU action, two class actions were launched in the United States and a Canadian company filed a request to initiate a class action.
However, Nintendo took no action to correct the bug or alert consumers. He even released a new OLED switch with exactly the same design as the Joy-Con, with the 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 highly polluting electronic waste.
European consumers announce that they have sent a letter to Nintendo which includes four requests: adequately informing consumers of violations and clarifying the expected life cycle on the packaging; Full compliance with the legal guarantee of the product without burden of proof or costs for consumers; Provide clear contact details to Nintendo to resolve the Joy-Con issue; Fixed a bug to ensure a “more permanent version of consoles”. Euroconsumers also specifies that it will participate in the dialogue and tests with Nintendo.
Of course, there has been a lot of interest in the Joy-Con consoles, which has led to many official complaints like this; Nintendo chairman Shuntaro Furukawa even apologized to investors in the summer of 2020. Other than some speculation at various times, there is little evidence to suggest a noticeable improvement in the design or reliability of the Joy-Con. lately.
Nintendo’s approach to this has often been to say very little, and arguably all it will do is wait for legal decisions. And with the arrival of the OLED model, the Joy-Con drift benefits from renewed airtime.
It’s also worth noting that Switch owners have come up with plenty of DIY Joy-Con fixes like this, although it comes with its own challenges and risks.
Let us know what you think of Euroconsumer’s comments, and indeed of the current Joy-Con “drift” issue.
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