Nintendo to Close Subscription Service for Switch Repairs in Japan
Nintendo is closing its subscription service for Switch repairs in Japan after just a year.
Wide Care – A Flat-Rate Repair Warranty Service
Priced at 200 yen per month ($1.50/£1.20) or 2,000 yen per year ($15/£12), Wide Care launched last summer billed as “a flat-rate repair warranty service that can be subscribed to at any time”.
Changes in Subscription Acceptance
However, as spotted by Perfectly Nintendo, the platform holder will no longer be accepting new subscriptions or contract renewals from August 31, 2023.
Products Covered
Products covered by Wide Care include Switch and Switch Lite consoles, Joy-Con controllers, the Switch dock, and AC adapters.
Protection Against Damage
In addition to natural breakdowns, water damage, and accidental damage are covered.
Service Availability
Nintendo never announced plans to launch the service outside of Japan.
Nintendo’s Sales Update and Future Console
The company recently reported a slowdown in Switch sales but suggested no new hardware would launch before April 2024, by which time its current console will have entered its eighth year on the market.
Progress on Next Console
Following Nintendo’s sales update, Nikkei Asia claimed to have been informed by a source close to the company that work on its next console appeared to be going smoothly.
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Nintendo was faced with fresh questions about its next generation console plans during its annual general meeting of shareholders in May.
Backwards Compatibility Support
While president Shuntaro Furukawa wouldn’t confirm if the console will feature backwards compatibility support, he said the company wants to make sure that customers can utilize Nintendo Accounts to “smoothly transition” between generations.
