If your Nintendo Switch is experiencing Joy-Con drift, you might be able to get your Switch repaired for free — and if you’ve already paid to get your Switch repaired, you might be eligible for a refund.
A few weeks ago, Kotaku reported that Nintendo Switch users were having trouble with their Joy-Con joysticks:
For months, Nintendo Switch users have been plagued by what’s become known as “Joy-Con drift.” Although they’re not touching the joystick on their Nintendo Switch controller, the console still thinks it’s moving. With no permanent fix being offered by Nintendo, they’re just sick of it.
At that time, the only options were to pay to ship your Joy-Con back to Nintendo and get it repaired, or figure out a DIY solution.
Then Vice received documentation indicating that Nintendo had quietly changed its policies:
[…] Nintendo recently told customer service representatives the company will no longer charge customers seeking Joy-Con repairs, and refund those who’ve already paid, according to internal Nintendo documentation seen by VICE Games.
“Customers will no longer be requested to provide proof of purchase for Joy-Con repairs,” the internal customer service details say. “Additionally it is not necessary to confirm warranty status. If a customer requests a refund for a previously paid Joy-Con repair […] confirm the prior repair and then issue a refund.”
Vice also confirmed that one of its team members was able to get a free Joy-Con repair from Nintendo following the new policy. (Yes, that includes free shipping — but this was a U.S. case, and Australian Nintendo representatives may treat individual cases differently.)
If you’re currently experiencing Joy-Con drift — or if you’ve recently had your Joy-Con repaired — it’s worth contacting Nintendo Customer Support and asking for either a complimentary repair or a refund all the same.
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