Check Nintendo Switch Cartridges for Damage Before Use
Nintendo Switch is a fun video game console, but surprisingly fragile. Its footboard can come off like a branch; its screen is easily scratched; and it appears that inserting a damaged game cartridge into the console could break the card reader, rendering it unable to play physical games.
This disturbing discovery is courtesy of Japanese blog Esuteru , which reported a YouTube video from a repair shop notifying people of the problem.
Here’s the problem: if you look at the back of a Nintendo Switch cartridge, you’ll notice a set of deep ridges on the bottom half, separated by plastic strips. If any of these strips are broken or cracked enough to move, the cartridge could damage the console component. According to the repair shop, if a component inside the switch is damaged, it cannot be repaired. (At least not without sending your console to Nintendo).
The easiest way to prevent this is to simply inspect the back of your games before inserting them into your Nintendo Switch. If there are any loose pieces, do not play the game. This happens doubly when you use cartridges that don’t belong to you – according to Esuteru, the switch in the video broke after the owner borrowed the game from a friend. I would also be particularly careful when buying a second- hand games Switch or lease of such services as Gamefly , who send loose cartridges in the mail.
Also, be extra careful with Switch cartridges. Always place them in boxes or a secure carrying case when not in the console. Switch cartridges are more like SD cards than old gaming carts – they don’t stand up to much wear and tear.
To be clear, while this is a daunting issue, the fact that the issue has not been widely reported in the two years since the Switch’s launch suggests that it is relatively easy to avoid.