Nintendo finally has a solution to fix the dreaded Joy-Con drift via an incredibly cheap repair service.
The new Nintendo Switch repair service known as comprehensive care (opens in new tab), covers the consoles as well as the infamous Joy-Con controllers. The controllers, packed with new Switch systems, have put Nintendo in hot water before. This is largely due to its relatively low build quality and ‘stick drift’ which erroneously registers movement to analog sticks even when not being played.
Unfortunately, the Wide Care service is only available in Japan at the moment. But it’s just good news when it comes to the price of the service. An annual Wide Care subscription costs just 2,000 yen. That’s about $15 / £12 / AU$22 a year.
Subscribers are covered for up to six repairs per year, with a total repair cost cap of 100,000 yen (i.e. approximately $738 / £609 / AU$1,074). Accidental damage is covered, as are natural wear and tear and damage from the elements.
We’ve reached out to Nintendo to comment on whether the Wide Care service will be available globally anytime soon.
Nintendo please…
There is no room for doubt here, I think Wide Care is an amazing service. On the surface level, it’s not much different from acquiring extra collateral. But Wide Care becomes especially attractive thanks to its absurdly low subscription cost. And it would be even better if Nintendo could roll out the service worldwide.
The Nintendo Switch is an excellent console, but unfortunately it is plagued by Joy-Con issues. So much so that I have long preferred the excellent Nintendo Switch Pro Controller due to its excellent build quality and long battery life.
But I know it’s not an option for many players. Some prefer the Joy-Con’s compact nature and its aptitude for hassle-free couch co-op sessions. Still others, understandably, aren’t necessarily willing to shell out extra cash for the Pro controller.
Nintendo’s Wide Care would solve this by giving Joy-Con users much-needed peace of mind. Being able to easily replace controllers through Nintendo rather than a third party will go a long way in alleviating problems like stick drift. As long as the replacements aren’t faulty either, of course.
But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself a little. It is not unreasonable to think that the cost of Wide Care may increase in territories outside of Japan. With supply issues still ongoing, a higher subscription cost may be required to offset the demand that a service like Wide Care would create.
And if that subscription cost ends up being more comparable to just buying a new pair of Joy-Con controllers (or a Nintendo Switch console) right away, I can see why Nintendo might keep Wide Care exclusive to Japan. That would be a shame, as the service is undoubtedly a valuable asset.