Nintendo says that they’ve fixed the connectivity issues a number of users had been experiencing with the left Joy-Con controller on their Nintendo Switch consoles.
In a statement issued to Polygon today, Nintendo clarified that the problem arose from an issue in the manufacturing of the console, not in the actual design of the hardware. The problem has been fixed at the factory level, and should not be a problem in any future consoles going forward.
Additionally, Nintendo will be allowing consumers to send in their defective hardware directly to Nintendo, where it will be fixed and returned free of charge. First, though, users are requested to visit the official Nintendo support page for the Joy-Con connectivity issues, and attempt the listed troubleshooting options. If they verify that the issue indeed lies with the hardware, they are eligible for the fix.
The full statement reads as follows:
There is no design issue with the Joy-Con controllers, and no widespread proactive repair or replacement effort is underway. A manufacturing variation has resulted in wireless interference with a small number of the left Joy-Con. Moving forward this will not be an issue, as the manufacturing variation has been addressed and corrected at the factory level.
We have determined a simple fix can be made to any affected Joy-Con to improve connectivity.
There are other reasons consumers may be experiencing wireless interference. We are asking consumers to contact our customer support team so we can help them determine if a repair is necessary. If it is, consumers can send their controller directly to Nintendo for the adjustment, free of charge, with an anticipated quick return of less than a week. Repair timing may vary by region.
Nintendo customer support can be reached at support.nintendo.com