Nintendo Blames “Manufacturing Variation” for Joy-Con Connectivity Issues

Since the release of the Nintendo Switch earlier this month, many users have reported connectivity issues with the console’s Joy-Con controllers, particularly the left-sided one. After promising to investigate the issue, Nintendo has now given a potential reason for the problems. In a statement to Kotaku, Nintendo admitted that a “manufacturing variation” may be causing interfering with connectivity on some builds of the left Joy-Con.

A Nintendo spokesperson told Kotaku:

“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. For help with any hardware or software questions, please visit http://support.nintendo.com.”

So, if you are a Switch owner who is still suffering connectivity issues with your Joy-Cons, your best bet is to contact Nintendo to get a free replacement.