Nintendo Launches Switch Repair Service in Japan

gamerant.com:

As is the case with any machine, a gaming console can suffer from random accidental damage or begin to shut down after years of wear and tear. Video game consoles have had a few notable issues over the years that have damaged or in some cases killed them entirely. The red ring of death plagued Xbox 360 users for some time, and Joy-Con drift is becoming an increasing issue for owners of the Nintendo Switch. However, Nintendo may have an answer to hardware problems with its newest console.

The gaming giant has recently announced the introduction of a subscription service for Switch consoles. Currently, the service termed Wide Care is only available in Japan, and is billed as a «flat-rate repair service» that can be subscribed to at any time. Unlike the Nintendo Switch physical Repair Centers, which are scattered throughout Europe and Japan, the Wide Care service won't bill a user for each repair. Rather, it covers a certain amount of yearly repairs for a monthly fee.

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Drift Repair Center Was Inundated With Requests

The fee is 200 yen per month for Nintendo's new Wide Care service, which equates to around $1.50, or 2,000 yen per year. The service covers both the Switch and Switch Lite consoles, as well as multiple accessories including AC adapters, the Switch dock, and Joy-Cons, meaning that fans may now be able to get replacements when their controllers suffer from the dreaded Joy-Con drift. So long as Nintendo Switch owners are subscribed to the Wide Care service, they can claim up to six repairs per year, including two that involve a console being replaced.

Up to 100,000 yen ($738) is covered in repair costs in the Wide Care subscription, and it will cover damage from water, accidental causes such as