While the Nintendo Switch 2 will be a significant jump over the original console in many respects, Nintendo has confirmed that the system’s controllers won’t be receiving a specific type of upgrade. A common pain point of the original Switch’s Joy-Cons and, to a lesser extent, even the Pro Controller, was that their control sticks were prone to drifting after prolonged use — and while the Switch 2’s controllers might prove to be better in that respect, they won’t be implementing a much-requested feature.
As confirmed in aNintendo Lifeinterview with Nintendo of America executive Nate Bihldorff,neither the Switch 2’s new Joy-Cons nor the Switch 2 Pro Controller will make use of Hall effect sticks— though Bihldorff stated that the Joy-Cons have been “designed from the ground up” and “feel really good.” While Bihldorff didn’t specifically address the issue of stick drift, he did make sure to stress that the Switch 2’s Pro Controller “is one of the quietest controllers[he’s]ever played.“
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Nintendo Promises Joy-Con 2 Is A Big Improvement
The Switch 2’s Controllers Come With Notable Upgrades, But Not Hall Effect Sticks
For reference, Hall effect sticks are control sticks that make use of magnets and electric conductors, eliminating the usual kinds of wear-and-tear that cause stick drift to develop in standard analog sticks. Notably, however, Hall effect sticks can have other issues, usually requiring larger dead zones and being somewhat susceptible to interference from external magnetic fields — the latter of which could possibly have been a concern for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, which already use magnets to snap onto the console.
Additionally, though Nintendo has yet to state whether the Switch 2 will improve on the original’s stick drift issues,there are some tangible upgrades being made to the systems’ Joy-Cons and Pro Controller. Most notably, the new Joy-Cons coming with the Switch 2 can function as a mouse, and the magnetic attachments should be less prone to wear and tear than the original Switch’s rail attachments. The Switch 2’s Pro Controller also includes “GL” and “GR” back buttons, which can have inputs from other buttons assigned to them for easier access, and an audio jack.
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It’s Hard To Trust Nintendo On Analog Sticks After Drift Issues
The First Switch’s Stick Drift Issues Might Cause Buyers To Doubt The Switch 2
While Hall effect sticks may or may not have been the right solution to the Switch’s drift issues,it can be hard to trust that the Switch 2’s controllers aren’t just repeating the mistakes of the first console. Presumably, Nintendo would want to avoid a repeat of the original Joy-Cons drift issues, which at one point had users threatening a class-action lawsuit and caused Nintendo to have to set up a repair service. But before users can get their hands on the products for long-term use, it’s hard to say whether any tangible improvements have been made.
At the moment, the Switch 2 is facing larger issues, as the pricing of the console and its exclusive games are causing widespread backlash from potential buyers. With those prices unlikely to change, however, the next best step would be to make the console a quality, durable product worthy of its premium price point. For now, it’s uncertain whether the Nintendo Switch 2‘s controllers will suffer from stick drift as badly as the first console did, but the lack of Hall effect sticks might be a bad sign.
