However, in the case of users who have found themselves in need of a repair or replacement for their Wii U console and/or GamePad (thanks to Nintendo ceasing factory repairs), things are slightly different. Here’s where things currently stand in terms of GamePad repair and alternatives for your Wii U:
Lack of Official Support
As of this moment, the Wii U GamePad or its accessories is no longer eligible for factory repair services by Nintendo. This choice of course, leaves out a path towards repair for users, notably in the cases of physical damage and internal functional defects26.
Alternative Repair Options
While official repairs do not exist, there are ways to deal with your Gamepad problems outside of the conventional means.
DIY Fixes: You may feel comfortable ripping the thing apart and cleaning it yourself if you’re a bit of an electronics head. There is some way to learn how to open the GamePad, clean it from inside and replace parts like joysticks or screens: you can find videos and guides about that14.
Third Party Service: Some Third party repair stores may have services for repairing issues but these can be spotty and variable5.
Replacement Strategies
In the event repairs are not possible, users have a few choices for replacement:
Used Market: This is probably the most cost effective option, but beware you are usually buying it as is from somewhere like pawn shops or online marketplaces and there’s obviously the risk of condition and if it actually works34.Wii U GamePad repair (ad)
Home-repairable: Users can purchase stand-alone parts (screens, joysticks) to replace defective components at their end allowing for a cheaper repair than buying a new unity45.
In short, if you’re a Wii U GamePad owner concerned by the news today be aware that this all makes things more complicated, but then there are different DIY and third party options out in the wild. To that end, users must balance mechanical aptitude with their budget constraints — but a belt driven system like this will always be the cheapest and easiest path forward.
