Nintendo Switch owners are some of the most loyal and patient gaming fans out there, but the inaction on the alleged Joy-Con “drift” issue is getting a bit too much for some.
Now the company has at least apologized for the issue, well without actually mentioning it by name. In a recent Q&A with Nintendo Japan, company president Shuntaro Furukawa said he apologizes for the inconvenience caused by… something… related to the Joy-Con.
“Regarding the Joy-Con, we apologize for any issues our customers have encountered,” Furukawa said (via Kotaku). “We continue to strive to improve our products, but since the Joy-Con is the subject of a class action lawsuit in the United States, and this is still a pending issue, we wish to refrain from responding to any specific actions.”
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Furukawa did not comment further on the issue due to the ongoing class action lawsuit in the United States, which was filed in July last year and could make Nintendo liable for damages should it win in the complainants’ favour.
The reported issue results in the detachable controllers recognizing input even when players are not touching the analog stick. Anecdotal data suggests that up to a quarter of players could have the problem. Nintendo has since offered free repairs to those who contact support when the problem manifests itself.
The complaint filed against Nintendo of America reads: “The complaint filed in US District Court for the Western District of Washington alleges that the joysticks on Joy-Con controllers are defective, causing users to experience drift issues. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the joystick on the Joy-Con controllers automatically registers movement when the joystick is not controlled by the user, disrupting gameplay.
“The complaint, filed on behalf of buyers of switches and Joy-Con controllers, raises claims under various consumer protection laws, as well as various warranty and common law claims.”