Nintendo has released a statement regarding reported issues of “Joy-Con drift” that have affected owners of Nintendo Switch’s signature Joy-Con controllers.
In the company’s response to The Verge, it writes:
“At Nintendo, we take great pride in creating quality products and we are continuously making improvements to them. We are aware of recent reports that some Joy-Con controllers are not responding correctly. We want our consumers to have fun with Nintendo Switch, and if anything falls short of this goal we always encourage them to visit http://support.nintendo.com so we can help.”
“Joy-Con drift,” which has impacted more and more Nintendo Switch players as time goes on and controllers become older, refers to a problem whereby one’s analog stick (usually a left Joy-Con’s) begins inputting directions when not being touched.
The issue has become so widespread, it has even sparked a class-action lawsuit against the company.
While the statement doesn’t indicate Nintendo is taking any action aside from referring affected customers to its customer service web page, it does illustrate that the company is aware of the problem.
It isn’t certain what is behind the “drift” issues: The Verge mentions some users blame it on “dust or debris making their way into the controller” while also mentioning the problem could, alternatively, be due to repetitive use of the Joy-Con.
Without an official explanation from Nintendo, though, it’s hard to determine what exactly is behind “Joy-Con drift” — and what can be done to fix it.
According to The Verge, some users have taken to using compressed air or isopropyl alcohol to fix the “drift” — with varied results.
For those who’re affected by “Joy-Con drift,” Nintendo’s warranty options can offer a fix: The company offers a standard 90-day warranty for separately-purchased Joy-Con controllers and a 12-month warranty for Joy-Con controllers that come with the Nintendo Switch console.
For those outside the warranty, Nintendo reportedly offers repairs — but they’re costly, running at least $40.
As of now, there have been no announcements regarding an extended warranty program or less-expensive repair program for Nintendo Switch owners affected by “Joy-Con drift.”
What’re your thoughts? Are you a sufferer of the dreaded drift? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!
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Written by Daniel Dell-Cornejo
Daniel is an editor at Nintendo Wire. Always with his head in the clouds, he is never apart from his creative thoughts – a blessing for an aspiring fiction writer. As a journalist and lifelong gamer, he aims to provide readers with the very best in Nintendo coverage.
