Nintendo has been swimming in Switch money since it was released back in 2017. However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing in one aspect. While the Switch 2 is also very profitable, something just bit Nintendo in the backside. That is the fact that they were fined by the French government in relation to faulty Switch 1 Joy-Cons.
Why was Nintendo fined 35 million Euros?
French regulators concluded that Nintendo had become aware of widespread Joy-Con defects as early as 2018 but did not adequately inform consumers for several years. The defect, commonly known as Joy-Con drift, causes the analog stick to register movement even when it is not being touched, making games difficult or impossible to control. According to the regulator, Nintendo’s delayed communication discouraged some customers from seeking repairs and instead led them to purchase replacement controllers, which was considered a misleading commercial practice.
The 35 million Euros case is significant because it holds Nintendo accountable for how it informed customers about the original Joy-Con defects, rather than simply because the controllers failed. While the Switch 2 continues to be watched closely for any signs of similar issues, the current penalty does not involve the new console. Any future legal action would depend on whether widespread defects emerge and how Nintendo responds to them.
Is the Switch 2 in trouble, too?
The answer is no. As of June 2026, there is no major lawsuit or regulatory action specifically targeting the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers. The 35 million Euros penalty concerns the original Switch hardware and Nintendo’s handling of the defect, not the newer console. Before the Switch 2 launched, many people expected Nintendo to switch to Hall effect sticks, which use magnets instead of physical contact and are much less prone to drift.
Instead, Nintendo confirmed that the Joy-Con 2 does not use Hall effect sensors. The company said the controllers were redesigned from the ground up and made to be more durable, but it did not explain exactly how they would avoid drift.
This is not a lawsuit, but there could be
Right now, there is no lawsuit against Nintendo, at least in this department. Plus, keep in mind it is the French government that did this. This isn’t a worldwide thing, although Nintendo already has other problems with other countries giving them fines and impending lawsuits. The newer Joy-Cons for the Switch 2 have been improved, so those older problems wouldn’t be resurfacing. However, people are very creative with their lawsuits, so Nintendo might be getting some other form of lawsuit, not just with Joy-Cons.
Final Thoughts
A fine like this might not dent Nintendo, but people are thinking, why fine them when they can offer some incentives to the customers? People aren’t happy that the government is the one getting paid and not the actual people who bought and suffered from the defective Joy-Cons. Regardless, if you plan on buying some Joy-Cons, make sure you’re getting good ones. If you’re not in France, you’re not getting any of that money. Well, even those living there aren’t getting it anyway.
