How much were French regulators fining Nintendo?

Nintendo faces a major penalty in France

Nintendo of Europe has agreed to a settlement with French regulators after an investigation into controller defects.

The settlement amount

The deal is described as a €35 million settlement (the story references a $40 million USD figure as well).

What regulators alleged

The investigation focused on the drift-related problems affecting Switch Joy-Cons. Regulators accused Nintendo of deceptive commercial practices tied to how the issue was handled and presented to customers.

Why this matters

This settlement is notable because it highlights how product performance issues—especially when they impact everyday gameplay—can trigger consumer-protection action even years after hardware launches.

Joy-Con drift has been a widely reported problem, and the enforcement angle here is not just technical; it concerns whether companies misled buyers about the defects and their remediation. A penalty at this scale signals regulators are willing to apply significant financial consequences when they conclude the business side of consumer communications doesn’t match the product reality.

What consumers should take away

If you own affected Joy-Cons, the story doesn’t provide specific remedy terms. However, it does reinforce that regulators are treating the drift issue as a serious consumer-rights matter. For shoppers, it’s also a reminder to check warranty and repair options—particularly for controllers that may be subject to known defect patterns.