Since the Nintendo Switch’s launch in 2017, issues with its hardware had been reported widely concerning the analog sticks on its Joy-Con controllers. More specifically, these referred to the sticks reading movement even when there had been no input from the user. The issue became so widespread that a class action lawsuit was filed against Nintendo earlier this year by the law firm Chimicles, Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith, citing “unfair, deceptive, and/or fraudulent business practices” on Nintendo’s parts due to their “defective” Joy-Con controllers.
Now, there’s been a new development in that lawsuit. Nintendo recently launched the Switch Lite, a handheld-only variant of the Switch that is cheaper, lighter, and more portable, and thanks to its single form factor, doesn’t come with detachable Joy-Cons, but controller inputs on the body of the system itself- which means replacements and repairs more complicated than in the case of the regular Switch, where Joy-Cons are separate, detachable units. Not long after the Switch Lite’s launch, reports started popping up of users experiencing drift in its analog sticks as well.
Now, the law firm Chimicles, Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith has updated its lawsuit to also include the Switch Lite (via Polygon), citing examples and anecdotes of users experience drift in the system from various social media outlets on the internet.
Earlier this year, Nintendo officially responded to Joy-Con drift issues, saying they were “aware” of the problem, before issuing an internal memo that directed their employees to fix any faulty Joy-Cons with drift issues bought in by customers without question for free, even if they were outside of their warranty period. They have not yet made any official statement regarding alleged issues with the Switch Lite.
