image

After an investigation into auto-renewal practices was done by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Nintendo has agreed to no longer enable auto-renewal for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers by default, which means that from now, anyone who wants to renew their subscription automatically has to turn on the auto-renewal option by going to the settings.

Nintendo is not the only company hit by this, as Sony also took similar decisions, and Microsoft already updated their policy back in January. Michael Grenfell, the executive director of enforcement at the CMA, commented on this decision:

As a result of our investigations, a number of changes have been made across this sector to protect customers and help tackle concerns about auto-renewing subscriptions.

Today’s announcement therefore concludes our investigations into the online video gaming sector. Companies in other sectors which offer subscriptions that auto-renew should review their practices to ensure they comply with consumer protection law

Add Comment

Comments (9)

sligeach_eire

2y ago

It was a scummy tactic, but it's not just Nintendo, Sony were implicated in this investigation as well, plus it goes on in other recreational and entertainment industries. It's too bad, that companies have to be forced to not be sleazy.

It's kind of the same thing with Joy-Con drift. Nintendo won't fix it properly unless the courts compel them to do so.


kuribo

2y ago

I think the EU is making it so that companies can’t have auto-renew as default. Either way, not a big deal. Just turn it off when you sign up to a service. People need to be more conscious of what they’re doing when handing over payment details too.


mako

2y ago

Auto renewal should not be a thing at all for any company, unless you explicitly enroll in it yourself. Good on them for making the change.


marl0

2y ago

It's about time! This has always been a scummy business practice. Even my old employer was a company that did this, and it bit them in the *** hard.


nekotaku

2y ago

Good, should always be off by default.


elfteiroh

2y ago

And on the other hand, I've been frustrated because I cannot set it up and keep forgetting to renew it. T_T


Companies can't regulate themselves. It's all abot having someone watching over them. If not, that's when they can become sloppy with the things they need to improve or get better at.


conangiga

2y ago

I don't get the commotion... I would always receive a mail from Nintendo one month prior to let me know that the renewal was coming up. If I didn't want that I could've just said no.


It's a first world problem. It's still good that this is no longer default regardless.