Overview
- France's DGCCRF concluded that Nintendo of Europe engaged in misleading commercial practices from 2018 to 2023 and the company accepted a €35 million settlement to resolve the case.
- Investigators found Nintendo delayed clear disclosure that some Joy‑Con controllers could register unintended movements or become unresponsive, a problem widely known as Joy‑Con drift.
- The regulator said Nintendo's early communications emphasized a narrow technical fault and discouraged use of after‑sales service, which led some customers to buy replacement controllers instead of seeking repairs.
- As part of the agreement Nintendo agreed to publish a notice on its French homepage and the settlement represents the company's first major regulatory loss over Joy‑Con drift after years of mostly unsuccessful private lawsuits.
- The ruling could strengthen consumer-protection enforcement in Europe and make manufacturers more accountable for disclosure, repair options, and clear messaging that affects how people fix or replace faulty devices.