Nintendo's Upcoming Switch 2 Model Lacks Drift-Resistant Hall Effect Joysticks, Offers Slight Hope Instead
New and Improved Joy-Cons, Yet Still Haunted by Stick Drift Issues
Man, oh man! If you're a Nintendo fan, you've probably experienced the darned stick drift issues with the old Switch's Joy-Con controllers. And you may be thinking that a new Switch 2 will finally bring some stick relief. But buckle up, folks, because it's looking like you might have to hang on to your third-party controllers for a bit longer.
A Nintendo of America executive confirmed that the new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Switch 2 will set you back $90, and they won't be using those fancy Hall effect sticks we've been hearing about (more on those later). But hey, the execs say the new sticks will still be “durable” - time will tell on that one!
Now, you might be wondering why the heck Nintendo would skip out on the ol' Hall effect technology, especially when some high-end controller makers like SCUF are moving towards it for its proven ability to provide precision and durability. Well,cross your fingers and hope that Nintendo's new sticks live up to their promises of being the "best possible experience for our consumers."
So, you ask, what kind of joystick are we actually getting? Nintendo isn't exactly spilling the beans, but a rep from GuliKit, one of the few companies that makes Hall effect stick module upgrades for the Switch, reckons the Switch 2 is probably going with carbon film potentiometer joysticks - the same technology you'll find in most standard controllers. Not great news, considering these sticks are more prone to wear and tear (and eventual stick drift!) over time.
During our hands-on with the Switch 2, we have to say the joysticks felt a bit better than the original Switch, with no noticeable sponginess. But we're talking about brand new devices here, so only time will tell how they'll hold up when faced with your kids’ roughhousing or those intense gaming sessions. Speaking of which, if you’ve been living with stick drift as a constant companion since 2017, you might have missed out on some great gaming experiences.
In a 2022 study by UK consumer group Which? (via Eurogamer), it was found that wear on the contact points between the circuit board and joysticks, along with dirt buildup on components, were the culprits behind stick drift issues. Beyond some apologies from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa and promises for free fixes, Nintendo never really offered any insight into their drift problems, except for claims that they’ve improved the sticks since the original Switch's launch in 2017. Some frustrated Switch owners even tried taking the company to court, but those cases mostly amounted to nowhere.
If you're hoping to score some Hall effect sticks on the Switch 2, then you might want to keep an eye on GuliKit. The company is working on Hall effect joystick conversions for the Joy-Con 2 controllers, similar to their $20 retrofit sticks for the original Switch. But there's no word yet on the release timing, and it seems like you'll still be stuck dealing with stick drift for a while.
Sure, you could abandon Joy-Cons entirely, but that might mean missing out on some awesome features like the new mouse controls in games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Civilization VII. So, if you’re going to shell out more for controllers that are practically as much as some Switch 2 games, let’s hope they'll last at least until Nintendo's next console arrives!
Insights:
- Hall effect sticks use magnetic fields to detect the position of the joystick, minimizing physical wear and reducing the risk of stick drift.
- Carbon film potentiometer sticks are prone to wear over time and may experience slight inaccuracies as their components wear.
- Nintendo's new joysticks are designed to be quieter and more responsive, even at high speeds.
- GuliKit is working to offer Hall effect joystick conversions for the Joy-Con 2 controllers.
- Drift issues in the original Joy-Cons were found to be caused by wear on the contact points between the circuit board and joysticks, as well as dirt buildup on components.
- Despite the high price, the new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Switch 2 will reportedly continue to use carbon film potentiometer joysticks, the same technology found in most standard controllers, rather than the Hall effect sticks.
- Some third-party companies, like SCUF, are moving towards Hall effect technology because of its proven ability to provide precision and durability, not found in carbon film potentiometer sticks.
- During testing, the new Joy-Con 2 controllers' sticks felt less spongy compared to the original Switch's controllers, but their lifespan remains uncertain due to their prone-to-wear-and-tear nature.
- GuliKit, one of the few companies specializing in Hall effect stick module upgrades for the Switch, believes the Switch 2 may implement carbon film potentiometer joysticks, making them work on developing Hall effect joystick conversions for the Joy-Con 2 controllers in the future.
