Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con’s will still drift, but it may be impossible to fix

I’m thrilled to discover that Nintendo is stepping up and providing free replacements for the Switch 2 Joy-Cons 2, acknowledging potential issues with joystick drift similar to what was experienced with the initial version. This shows their commitment to ensuring a smooth gaming experience for us fans!

It’s well known that Joy-Con drift, a problem with the joysticks in the smaller controller, was a major concern for many users of the first Nintendo Switch. Over time, these joysticks tended to wear out easily, leading to numerous cases where they stopped functioning properly due to breakdown.

Many people experienced Joy-Con drift, an issue with the controllers’ joysticks on the original Nintendo Switch. As these joysticks wore out quickly, a significant number of them malfunctioned or broke altogether.

In response to the problem promptly, Nintendo established a system where customers with faulty Joy-Cons due to a suspected manufacturing flaw could mail them in for a complimentary replacement, as opposed to blaming user error.

On the following Friday, June 6th, it emerged only a day after its launch that Nintendo was providing complimentary replacements for faulty controllers, while detailed analysis showed minimal enhancements in the joystick.

Nintendo is providing replacement Joy-Con 2 controllers at no cost, as they continue to experience similar drifting issues found in the previous version.

— TopMob (@TopMob) June 6, 2025

Joy-Con drift may still be a thing

It’s hard to predict the extent of Joy-Con drift problems with the Switch 2 until many users have used it extensively over time, since one day isn’t sufficient to wear out the controller significantly.

In April, Nintendo disclosed that their latest controllers no longer rely on Hall Effect sensors, which are prone to wear and cause stick drift issues. Instead, they’ve completely redesigned the controllers, focusing on improved potentiometer sticks.

Based on my understanding from iFixit’s teardown analysis of the controllers, it seems that there’s a good possibility that the upcoming Joy-Con 2 may continue to experience stick drift issues, just like its predecessor.

Nintendo Switch 2 – NEW Joy-Cons SAME problem!
—#iFixit #NintendoSwitch2 #JoyCon

— iFixit (@iFixit) June 6, 2025

As a fervent admirer, I must say that the choice to equip the Switch 2 with conventional sensors instead of hall effect joysticks has sparked confusion among many enthusiasts, but there’s an underlying design rationale that makes this decision quite logical.

While some users are puzzled by the absence of hall effect joysticks in the Switch 2, a strategic design consideration justifies this choice.

The magnetic connection approach is used with the Joy-Con 2 controllers. If Nintendo implemented Hall Effect sensors in these controllers, they might experience interference issues while being connected directly to the Switch 2 console.

According to JerryRigEverything’s durability test, it was found that the controller connects to the device using robust metal shoulder buttons which align with magnets housed within the Nintendo Switch 2.

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2025-06-06 23:48