Nintendo has agreed to pay a fine of 35 million euros to resolve a French consumer protection authority’s claims regarding defective controllers for its Switch gaming consoles. The decision was announced Monday following a complaint filed in 2020 by a French consumer advocacy group, which accused the Japanese company of “planned obsolescence” related to the faulty “Joy-Con” controllers.

The complaint highlighted thousands of consumer reports of “Joy-Con drift,” a malfunction where the joystick on the original Switch model would register movement in one direction without user input. This issue has been widely reported since the console’s initial release in 2017.

France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) conducted an investigation and found that Nintendo Europe had not adequately informed customers about the persistent hardware problem. According to the DGCCRF, Nintendo’s public communications on the issue were inconsistent, contributing to consumers often purchasing new controllers rather than seeking repairs or replacements.

In response to ongoing criticism, Nintendo announced in 2023 that it would offer free repairs or replacements for defective Joy-Con controllers even beyond the standard warranty period. The recent settlement with French authorities resolves the dispute concerning the company’s prior handling of the issue.

The case reflects growing scrutiny over the durability and repairability of consumer electronics, with regulatory bodies increasingly targeting companies perceived to neglect transparent communication or limit after-sales support. Nintendo’s settlement underscores the importance of addressing hardware faults and maintaining consumer trust in a competitive market.