June 9, 2026, 2:59 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Nintendo must pay a fine of 35 million euros in France. The reason is the long-known Joy-Con drift issue with the Nintendo Switch. The French consumer protection agency DGCCRF accuses Nintendo of not adequately informing customers about the defect. Nintendo of Europe has now accepted the fine.
What is the Joy-Con Drift Problem?
The Joy-Con drift is one of the biggest hardware issues in the history of the Nintendo Switch. The analog sticks register movements even when they are not touched. Characters continue to move on their own, cameras rotate unintentionally, or menus are difficult to navigate. In some cases, playing becomes nearly impossible. The problem occurred so frequently that French service providers tasked with repairs received thousands of Joy-Cons per week and were overwhelmed, reported the French news portal “Le Monde.”
According to French authorities, Nintendo was aware of the problem as early as 2018. However, the company only communicated about it publicly later. Free repairs for affected controllers have been widely available in Europe only since 2023. The agency believes this led some users to buy new controllers even though a repair was possible. Therefore, France considers this misleading business practice.
Nintendo, however, denies the accusation of deliberately misleading consumers. Accepting the fine is not an admission of guilt but serves to settle the proceedings. At 35 million euros, it is also the second-highest fine ever imposed by the French agency DGCCRF. Only the fast-fashion retailer Shein had to pay more in France.
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How the Repair Works
Anyone experiencing issues with one or more Joy-Cons can still have the controllers repaired for free in Germany. This applies even if the warranty has already expired. This policy was introduced after the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) received over 25,000 complaints in 2021. However, while repairs are free in the countries of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, this is not the case everywhere. For example, users in Japan, Nintendo’s home country, are not aware of this. There, a type of subscription can be taken out for repairs.
Before users register for a repair, Nintendo recommends first calibrating the analog sticks and checking if the standard button layout is activated. In some cases, this can already resolve the issue.
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If the problems persist, a repair form can be filled out on the Nintendo support page. Important: Affected users should only send in the defective Joy-Con. The Nintendo Switch itself should not be sent with this repair service. Damages from self-repairs, improper use, or third-party accessories may also be excluded from the free repair.
Could the Switch 2 Also Be Affected?
The Joy-Con drift has been causing complaints since the Nintendo Switch’s market launch in 2017. Consumer associations in several European countries have therefore put pressure on Nintendo. As a result, Nintendo significantly expanded its repair program for affected controllers.
The error is caused, among other things, by wear and tear on the analog sticks and dirt on the sensors. However, the problem is not limited to Nintendo alone. Many manufacturers use so-called potentiometers, which can wear out over time. The joystick movements are recorded via sliding contacts, which gradually wear out with use and become less accurate.
Whether the newer Switch 2 will develop similar problems in the long term is still unclear. So far, there are no comparable issues. However, the stick technology used is similar to that of the original Switch.