France Fines Nintendo $40 Million USD Over Drifting Switch Joy-Cons
The issue reportedly affected almost 155 million players worldwide.
Summary
- Nintendo of Europe has agreed to a €35 million settlement following a French investigation into controller defects
- Regulators accused the brand of deceptive commercial practices by withholding defect information from 2018 to 2023
- The gaming giant must publish a formal notice regarding the ruling on its official regional website
France’s consumer protection agency has dealt a massive blow to Nintendo of Europe. The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) officially imposed a €35 EUR million penalty (approximately $40 million USD) on the gaming giant. Regulators penalized the manufacturer for misleading buyers regarding the lifespan of Nintendo Switch controllers. This regulatory strike concludes a sweeping investigation into the infamous Joy-Con drift phenomenon. The hardware defect causes analog sticks to register involuntary movements without player input and regularly ruins gameplay sessions. Drift issues reportedly impacted almost half of the massive 155 million Switch userbase worldwide.
French authorities determined that Nintendo engaged in deceptive business practices by actively withholding information about known hardware defects. Internal awareness of the controller malfunction existed as early as 2018. The company waited until 2020 to publicly acknowledge the problem. Regulators concluded that this prolonged silence actively discouraged users from seeking free technical support. Countless gamers opted to purchase expensive replacement controllers instead of utilizing the repair program introduced in 2019. The official probe initially launched following a fierce 2020 complaint from local consumer rights group UFC-Que Choisir. The organization heavily criticized the brand for planned obsolescence and noted that subsequent manufacturing updates failed to resolve the mechanical wear.
Beyond the hefty financial penalty, Nintendo must publish a formal public notice detailing the investigation findings directly on its French homepage. The brand quickly agreed to the settlement but maintains a defensive posture regarding the accusations. A corporate statement clarified that the payment does not represent an admission of guilt and serves purely as an amicable resolution to the legal dispute. Representatives denied any intent to intentionally mislead their dedicated fanbase.
