Nintendo Issues Voluntary Strap Replacements

By Shawn White / Friday, 15 December 2006

Nintendo is planning to replace up to two million Wii Remote straps after consummate reports of players injuring themselves and breaking televisions. The new straps will be 1.0 millimeter thick, in contrast to the .6 millimeter thickness of initial straps. In order to acquire a new strap, consumers are asked to contact Nintendo via phone at (800) 859-4519 or or visit the company's support page. "People tended to get a bit excited, especially while playing Wii sports, and in some cases the control would come loose from their hands," Nintendo spokesperson Yasuhiro Minagawa said. "The new strap will be almost twice as thick." The new straps are expected to become standard for all future Wii consoles and separately-sold Wii Remotes. However, another Nintendo representative told the BBC that "this is not a product recall. The current wrist strap is fine - it has passed all safely standards and does the job. This is simply a precaution because we are aware of the concerns over their safety... Even though the original straps are perfectly adequate for normal play, we can't control the exuberance of players." Stay with The Wiire for the latest strap-snapping developments.