Nintendo Switch 2 fails to fix one of the biggest problems with Switch 1 Joy-Cons
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Nintendo Switch 2 was finally released in most regions yesterday, on June 5. While some are still waiting for their pre-orders to arrive, many have already gotten their hands on the new console, whether that be from an online pre-order or directly from an in-store location. However, while most are busy enjoying their new favorite games, a few have started tearing them down to see if one major issue has finally been fixed – the Joy-Con drift problem.
Nintendo Switch 2 users are ripping apart their consoles
For those unfamiliar, Joy-Con drift has been an issue for Nintendo Switch users since the console’s original release. The problem causes the analog sticks to move on their own, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay and even while navigating menus. It didn't affect everyone, but a large number of users experienced it. In fact, at one point, Nintendo US was receiving thousands of faulty Joy-Cons every week. Some users encountered the issue right out of the box, while others noticed it after a few months of use.
Because of this, many had high hopes for the Nintendo Switch 2, hoping the company would finally fix this frustrating problem. Early reports pointed towards Hall Effect sticks, but Nintendo denied this speculation, calling them “smooth gliding sticks” instead.
Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 has finally launched, some users have started tearing down the console to find out if Nintendo has finally fixed the Joy-Con drift issue. One Reddit user, Moshi_yo, took apart one of the new Joy-Cons and discovered that the internal design is very similar to the original Joy-Con sticks.
The team at iFixit also opened up the console and was disappointed to find that Nintendo is still using the same sensor as in the original Switch. According to them, fixing the drift issue would have required switching to a different type of sensor.
iFixit further explained that most modern joysticks use a “potentiometer to measure voltage through a wiper that slides across a strip of resistive material.” Over time, this material wears down, and dust or plastic particles can cause the sensors to become dirty and less accurate. When comparing the old and new Joy-Cons side by side, they found that they look almost identical.
However, a while back, in an Ask the Developer blog, Nintendo Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto said that the control sticks on the Switch 2 are “larger and more durable, with smoother movement.” While the sensors remain the same, the larger stick size might help reduce wear and tear, which could prevent the drifting issue. However, only time will tell if increasing the size was the right move instead of switching to a different sensor.
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