Nintendo Offers Free Repairs After Kumamoto Quake

Nintendo's free repair program for Kumamoto earthquake damage was a customer support initiative announced in April 2016 by Nintendo Co., Ltd., the Kyoto-based video game manufacturer. The program provided no-cost repair services for Nintendo consoles and hardware damaged during the Kumamoto earthquake sequence that struck Japan's Kyushu region on April 14–16, 2016. The initiative addressed the problem of earthquake-damaged gaming hardware for affected customers in the disaster zone. As a corporate disaster-response measure, the program eliminated repair fees for eligible Nintendo products, ensuring that customers in the affected region could restore their gaming hardware without financial burden.

Key Facts

Nintendo's Kumamoto earthquake repair program covered all repair costs for eligible Nintendo hardware damaged during the April 2016 seismic sequence. The program was announced in April 2016, following the M6.2 foreshock of April 14 and the M7.0 mainshock of April 16, and applied to Nintendo consoles and accessories in the affected region.

Nintendo's Kumamoto earthquake repair program covered all repair costs for eligible Nintendo hardware damaged during the April 2016 seismic sequence.

How Did Nintendo's Free Repair Program Work?

Nintendo's free repair program required affected customers to contact Nintendo's customer support channels to arrange for repair of their earthquake-damaged consoles. The company assumed all repair costs for eligible products, eliminating the financial burden on customers in the disaster-affected region.

According to Kotaku's April 2016 report, Nintendo announced the free repair initiative shortly after the earthquake sequence. The program was part of Nintendo's broader disaster-response efforts, which included support for affected employees and communities in the Kumamoto region.

"Nintendo will repair products damaged in the Kumamoto earthquake free of charge."

— Nintendo Co., Ltd., official announcement, April 2016, as reported by Kotaku

Nintendo's free repair program eliminated all repair costs for earthquake-damaged consoles, a policy that remained in effect for affected customers in the Kumamoto region.

What Products Were Covered by the Free Repair Program?

Nintendo's free repair program covered all Nintendo-manufactured console hardware and accessories damaged in the Kumamoto earthquake, including home consoles and handheld systems. The exact product list was not exhaustively detailed in the Kotaku report, but the program applied broadly to Nintendo's consumer hardware lineup.

At the time of the earthquake in April 2016, Nintendo's active hardware lineup included the Wii U home console and the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld systems. The repair program was designed to cover these products, along with any other Nintendo hardware damaged in the disaster.

Nintendo's repair coverage extended to its full consumer hardware lineup, including the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS families, as of April 2016.

Who Was Eligible for Nintendo's Free Repairs?

Eligibility for Nintendo's free repair program was limited to customers whose Nintendo products were damaged as a direct result of the Kumamoto earthquake sequence. The program targeted residents of Kumamoto Prefecture and surrounding areas affected by the seismic activity.

The Kotaku report did not specify a deadline for submitting repair requests, nor did it detail the exact documentation required to prove earthquake damage. Customers were instructed to contact Nintendo's customer support to initiate the repair process, with the company handling each case individually.

Eligibility for Nintendo's free repair program was restricted to customers whose hardware was directly damaged by the Kumamoto earthquake sequence in April 2016.

Who Is This For?

This repair program was designed for Nintendo customers residing in or near Kumamoto Prefecture who owned Nintendo hardware damaged during the April 14–16, 2016 earthquake sequence. The program specifically served disaster-affected consumers who would otherwise have faced repair costs for earthquake-damaged gaming equipment.

The program also served as a demonstration of Nintendo's corporate disaster-response policy, setting a precedent for how the company handles customer support during natural disasters. The initiative was notable for its no-cost structure, which differed from standard paid repair services.

Nintendo's free repair program was specifically targeted at disaster-affected customers in Kumamoto Prefecture, a demographic that would otherwise have borne the full cost of repairing earthquake-damaged hardware.

Common Questions

How do I request a free repair from Nintendo after the Kumamoto earthquake?

Affected customers were instructed to contact Nintendo's customer support directly to arrange for repair of their earthquake-damaged consoles. The Kotaku report did not specify a dedicated hotline or web portal, but directed readers to Nintendo's standard support channels.

What Nintendo products were eligible for free repair?

Nintendo's free repair program covered the company's consumer hardware lineup, including the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS families. The Kotaku report did not provide an exhaustive list, but the program applied broadly to Nintendo-manufactured consoles and accessories damaged in the earthquake.

How long did the free repair program last?

The Kotaku report did not specify an end date for Nintendo's free repair program. The announcement was made in April 2016, and customers were advised to contact Nintendo's customer support for case-by-case handling of repair requests.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Kotaku report titled "Nintendo Offers Free Repairs After Kumamoto Quake," published in April 2016 at https://kotaku.com/nintendo-offers-free-repairs-to-consoles-damaged-in-kumamoto-earthquake-2000722827. The report documented Nintendo's announcement of free repair services for consoles damaged in the Kumamoto earthquake sequence.

Additional factual context regarding the earthquake itself (dates, magnitudes) is drawn from publicly available seismic data. Where the Kotaku report did not provide specific details — such as the program's end date or the exact documentation required — this article explicitly notes that the information is unknown.

This article was last updated on January 15, 2025.