Nintendo offers free repairs for earthquake-damaged consoles – Gamer Web

Nintendo offers free repairs for earthquake-damaged consoles

Nintendo said it will provide free repairs for consoles and accessories damaged by the July 28 earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, as part of aid measures for residents in the affected areas.

Who is eligible and how long the program runs

According to the company, residents living in areas covered by Japan’s Disaster Relief Act can request free repair service for Nintendo products damaged as a direct result of the earthquake. Requests will be accepted through February 1, 2027.

The offer applies regardless of a product’s warranty status, though Nintendo warned that some devices may be beyond repair depending on the extent of the damage.

Which devices are covered

The program covers Nintendo-branded hardware and peripherals, explicitly including Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles, as well as accessories damaged by the seismic event.

Financial donation to relief efforts

In addition to the repair program, Nintendo pledged ¥50 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society to support relief operations for earthquake victims.

Scale of the disaster in Kumamoto

The magnitude-6.8 quake struck Kumamoto on July 28, producing widespread damage across the region. At the time of the original report, more than 8,000 people had been evacuated from affected areas, about 700 houses were destroyed and roughly 12,000 suffered some level of damage.

Approximately 45,000 properties were reported without water supply, and 38 deaths had been confirmed, including fatalities linked to the collapse of an Aeon Mall shopping center.

Recovery efforts have faced additional challenges from high summer temperatures, raising risks of heat-related illness for residents, volunteers and recovery teams. Authorities remain monitoring the region for possible aftershocks.

Other industry contributions

Damaged shopping center and rescue activity after Kumamoto earthquake
Image showing rescue activity near damaged buildings after the Kumamoto earthquake; credit listed as Game Games/ Reprodução

Nintendo’s package of financial support and free repairs follows contributions from other companies in the games industry: The Pokémon Company announced a donation of ¥100 million, and Sony donated ¥50 million to assist relief efforts.

For Nintendo, the combination of monetary aid and repair services is intended to provide direct assistance to consumers whose devices were damaged by the earthquake.

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