Nintendo Switch Lite added to lawsuit over Joy-Con drifting problem

By Aaron Mamiit Updated January 19, 2021

Some Nintendo Switch Lite owners have joined the class-action lawsuit against Nintendo over the Joy-Con drift problem, as they have started experiencing the frustrating issue on their portable consoles.

The law offices of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith filed the lawsuit against Nintendo in July, alleging that the Joy-Cons of the original Nintendo Switch are defective. This results in drifting, which is when the controllers register movement even when they are not being used, leading to interference in gameplay.

The lawsuit is now expanded to include complaints of drifting on the Nintendo Switch Lite, which was just released on September 20.

“I beat Link’s Awakening over the weekend on my original Switch Lite system, I had only put like 20 something hours on it, and it started to show joy-con drift,” according to one of the owners who was cited in the complaint, an updated copy of which was acquired by Polygon.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed in July, Nintendo instructed customer service representatives to stop charging customers when fixing Joy-Con drift and to refund those who have already paid for repairs. Nintendo Switch owners experiencing the problem were suggested to contact the company through its support page to take advantage of the offer.

Gamers expected that Nintendo would have fixed the drifting problem in the Nintendo Switch Lite, as the issue was one of the glaring pitfalls of the original version of the console. However, a teardown by YouTube channel Spawn Wave revealed that the device’s analog sticks are similar to the ones used in the detachable Joy-Cons, which meant that the risk of drifting was still present.

Unfortunately, the risk has now turned into reality. It remains unclear, however, why the problem has started cropping up in Nintendo Switch Lite units very early, compared to the standard edition of the console. Also, it remains to be seen whether the free repairs for drifting issues will be expanded to include the device’s portable-only version.

Owners of the Nintendo Switch Lite, as well as either version of the original Nintendo Switch, who are suffering from drifting problems may join the class-action lawsuit by signing up online.

Topics

Contributor

Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…

Gaming

Nintendo Switch 2: 5 features we want in the next-gen console

Prime Day Nintendo Switch Deals

Rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 (or Switch Pro) have been circulating for years. Whispers of the next-gen Nintendo console first started when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was first teased in 2019, gained steam when the Switch OLED launched in 2021, and are increasing now that the standard Switch has been out for six years.

There's no doubt that the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic console -- it has a unique and impressive game library (with more upcoming games slated for this year), the number of features included with Nintendo Switch Online is constantly improving, and it's still our favorite portable console -- but it isn't without its flaws. There's enough room for improvement that would warrant an entirely new console in the near future. Nintendo recently announced that we won't see a Switch upgrade in the next fiscal year, meaning the absolute earliest we get a look at a new Nintendo console would be in late 2024.

Gaming

Nintendo Switch’s weirdest launch game is getting a surprise sequel

Key art for Everybody 1-2-Switch!

Nintendo has quietly announced Everybody 1-2-Switch!, a sequel to one of the oddest launch titles for Nintendo Switch.
1-2-Switch! was a Nintendo Switch launch title that served as a tech demo of sorts for the Joy-Con controllers, with players completing minigames based on direction from actors in live-action clips. It's a very quirky and critically divisive Nintendo Switch game, so it's a bit surprising to see a follow-up. According to the eShop listing for Everybody 1-2-Switch!, this game lets players use their Joy-Cons or smartphones to complete a variety of team-based minigames. And that's about all we've seen or know about this $30 game ahead of its June 30 launch alongside some new pastel Joy-Cons.

Everybody 1-2-Switch!'s announcement was quite unorthodox for Nintendo. It simply tweeted about the game's existence and opened up preorders on the eShop. This all happened with no reveal trailer less than a month before the game's launch. It's unknown why Nintendo's taking this approach instead of including the game in a Nintendo Direct or other major showcase, but a 2022 report from Fanbyte may reveal the answer. According to that report, Everybody 1-2-Switch! tested horribly, and Nintendo worried that the game could "damage the company’s reputation as a great software developer."
Almost a year after that report, it seems that the game has improved enough to release, or maybe Nintendo is just willing to take the hit after the impressive launch and critical reception of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Either way, this is a weird sequel to a weird Nintendo Switch launch game that's being mutedly marketed so it doesn't elicit much hype. We'll just have to wait and play it for ourselves if we want to know whether Everybody 1-2-Switch! is an enjoyable game or not.
Everybody 1-2-Switch! will be released physically and digitally for Nintendo Switch on June 30.

Gaming

When does Hogwarts Legacy come out on Nintendo Switch?

A student waving a wand in Hogwarts Legacy.

Hogwarts Legacy is the latest and greatest adventure in the magical Harry Potter universe. Set in the 1800s, the story focuses on a generic fifth-year student who’s tasked with taking down a brewing Goblin rebellion in-between their school duties. For Potterheads of all ages, a game that allows them to traverse the halls of Hogwarts, learn their favorite spells from the books and films, and fight enemies like dark wizards, trolls, and dragons is an absolute dream.

The game launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC in February. While reviews were mixed across the board, longtime fans jumped into the wizarding world in droves — over 15 million copies of the game have been sold to date. Unfortunately, players on the top-tier consoles were the only ones who had access to the game for a while. Instead of launching on all platforms simultaneously, Hogwarts Legacy's release has been staggered.