Some time after the original Nintendo Switch console was officially launched in 2017, the “drift” problem of the Joy-Con controller gradually began to spread among players around the world, and even caused Nintendo to face various legal charges. Recently, France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Anti-Fraud (DGCCRF) also formally fined Nintendo up to 35 million euros (approximately NT$1.2 billion), accusing Nintendo Europe of engaging in ongoing “misleading business practices” from 2018 to 2023.
Although Nintendo publicly apologized in 2020 for the drift problem of the Joy-Con controllers of the original Switch console, they still faced multiple class-action lawsuits because of this. Then they officially began selling a single Joy-Con controller, so that players who need to replace the controller do not have to buy a pair at once, and even provided a set of free repair services for consumers in some European countries. But for the DGCCRF, these responses appear to have been a last resort.
According to the latest report from France’s Le Monde, after a series of in-depth investigations, DGCCRF officials discovered that Nintendo officials had actually known that the controllers might have such problems long before Joy-Con controllers drifted around the world. In addition, they also believed that Nintendo’s official response after the incident had constituted an illegal and misleading business practice, and also changed the economic behavior of consumers.
In response to this, Nintendo officials later denied the accusation in a statement provided to Le Monde, saying that even though they have agreed to pay the fine to the French government, this does not mean that they have admitted this statement, but is simply an amicable solution to legal procedures.
This has become another latest development in the nearly 10-year-old Joy-Con drift controversy of the original Switch console, and as of now, related issues may still continue to rage. Now, the new generation of Nintendo Switch 2 console has officially entered its first anniversary in the blink of an eye. Although the Joy-Con of this new console has not yet experienced too serious drift problems, another controversy surrounding the official price increase of this console has gradually begun to trigger discussions.
Source: KOCPC Chinese