Which? says Nintendo should be obliged to replace drift-prone Joy-Con controllers for free.

According to the consumer association, the analog sticks on the Joy-Con controllers are prone to drifting (they automatically steer your character in one direction even when you are no longer using the stick, i.e., they detect input when you are not) and it is not a new problem. The Nintendo Switch has been on the market for almost six years, and it was a common issue for the first few years, especially on the left Joy-Con controller. While the big N has consistently claimed that it has improved the controllers since its release in 2017, and so drifting is much less common on new Joy-Cons, it can be a problem that pops up at any time in older hardware.

Which? conducted a lab test to find the exact cause of the fault. Dust and worn contact points are common causes of drifting, but several other tests have shown it, and we’ve likely written about this issue before. The organization is asking Nintendo to commission an independent investigation into the cause of Joy-Con drift and make the results and findings of the study publicly available; commit to repair or replace Joy-Cons sold in the UK since launch in 2017 that have since then been found to have drifted, free of charge with “no quibble,” even after the warranty period expired; offer a compensation or refund plan to anyone in the UK who can prove they paid for Joy-Cons that needed replacing due to drifting; and promote these options so that all affected are aware that they can get a free replacement, compensation or refund.

“Nintendo must get a grip on the problem and provide free repairs, compensation, refunds, or replacements to any consumers impacted by this issue since the console launch,” said Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha. It’s not the first time the organization has asked the big N to launch an internal investigation, as it surveyed 919 Switch owners and found that 40% (!) of them had experienced Joy-Con drift…

Source: VGC