We won’t know anything for certain until Nintendo finally releases some sales numbers but so far, the new Nintendo Switch video game console looks like a big success. Nintendo desperately needed a win following the Wii U disaster and, more recently, the somewhat ill-fated launch of its first Mario game for the iPhone and Android, Super Mario Run. The game was eagerly anticipated ahead of its release, and it looked like it would be an explosive success in the early days. Nintendo’s inexperience in the mobile app market quickly became apparent though, because it failed to use the model shared by all successful mobile games, instead opting for a one-time payment that unlocks the entire game with no future paid updated planned. As a result, Super Mario Run quickly plummeted on the revenue chart in Apple’s App Store where, embarrassingly, it is no longer in the top 150.
The Switch, on the other hand, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon from the looks of things. Nintendo isn’t coming anywhere close with matching high demand for the new video game console, which has been flying off store shelves since it debuted earlier this month. Early response has been fantastic, but there are a few gripes early adopters have had so far — and now, Nintendo has finally responded to one of the biggest issues facing many Switch owners.
Late last week, we told you about a quick fix for an issue gamers have been experiencing with the wireless Joy-Con controllers for the Nintendo Switch. In a nutshell, many people have found that the left half of the controller fails to stay connected reliably to the console. Some people have found success opening up the controller and tweaking the components inside, but that’s obviously not advisable. The potential solution we proposed takes about a minute and it doesn’t void any warranties.
While some have found more success than others with that fix, there may be a more reliable solution in the works from Nintendo. For the first time, the Japanese gaming giant has addressed the issues many gamers are facing with their controllers, assuring the public that the company is aware of them and is investigating the matter.
“All I can tell you is that we are aware of and have seen some of the reports,” Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said in a recent interview with Time. We’re asking consumers a lot of questions….we’ll look and see what the next steps are.” A spokesperson from Nintendo’s public relations team added, “There are no widespread technical problems, and all issues are being handled promptly, including the reports regarding the left Joy-Con Bluetooth connection.”
Again, it’s currently unclear when Nintendo will have some firm answers for us as far as what the problem is and how to fix it, but at least we now know the company is well aware of the issues and is investigating them internally.
