France Imposes Large Fine on Nintendo Over Joy-Con Issues

Nintendo has been fined 35 million euros by the French consumer protection regulator DGCCRF. The reason for this is the long-standing problems with Joy-Con controllers and the company's response to user complaints.

The decision to fine was made by the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF). According to the agency, the fine was imposed on Nintendo of Europe, which agreed with the regulator's decision.

The amount of 35 million euros became one of the largest sanctions imposed by the DGCCRF in recent years. In 2025, only the Chinese company Shein received a higher fine, which underscores the scale of the case.

However, the claims do not concern the fact of malfunctions itself. The stick drift problem is known to other manufacturers as well. The main issue is how Nintendo responded to user complaints.

According to the DGCCRF, the company was aware of potential Joy-Con defects as early as 2018. However, public statements only appeared about two years later, and a full-fledged warranty repair system was implemented even later.

It was the delay in response that became the key argument of the French authorities. In their opinion, consumers did not receive sufficient information about the problem and ways to solve it for a long time.

The decision of the French regulator may also affect other European countries. Experts do not rule out that other agencies will also review the Joy-Con and Nintendo story.