Nintendo Pledges Free Console Repairs for Earthquake Victims After Kumamoto Disaster
Nintendo has announced a series of support measures to help people affected by the devastating Kumamoto earthquake, including free repairs for eligible Nintendo products and a significant financial donation to ongoing relief efforts.
The announcement comes after the magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, 2026, causing widespread destruction across the region, damaging homes, roads and rail infrastructure, and forcing thousands of residents into evacuation shelters while essential services were disrupted.
Nintendo said it hopes its support will help ease some of the burden facing those affected as communities continue the long recovery process following one of Japan’s most destructive natural disasters in recent years.
The company will provide free repairs for eligible Nintendo products owned by people living in areas covered by Japan’s Disaster Relief Act, regardless of whether the devices are still covered by warranty.
The initiative applies to repairable Nintendo hardware and accessories, with repairs available between July 28, 2026 and February 1, 2027, subject to the company’s standard repair service conditions and the condition of each product.
Customers using Nintendo’s online repair service will need to include a note referencing the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake together with their repair application number before sending their product to Nintendo’s service center using cash-on-delivery shipping.
Those applying without using the online repair system will instead need to include their name, return address, telephone number, details of the product being sent, and a description of the fault alongside a note stating that the request relates to the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake.
Nintendo has also pledged ¥50 million (approx. $305,000 USD / £230,000 GBP) to the Japanese Red Cross Society to support emergency relief efforts and longer-term recovery work across the affected communities.
The announcement follows a similar commitment from The Pokémon Company, which recently confirmed a ¥100 million donation (approx. $610,000 USD / £460,000 GBP) to relief funds supporting Kumamoto Prefecture and organizations assisting people impacted by the disaster.
The latest earthquake has reopened painful memories for many local residents, as the region continues to live with the legacy of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes that claimed hundreds of lives and damaged almost 200,000 homes across the prefecture.
Nintendo added that anyone requiring further assistance with the repair process can also contact the company’s online customer support service for additional guidance.
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