Switch 2 Has to Fix a Troubling Issue That’s Haunted Nintendo for 8 Years

Although other consoles have developed dedicated followings, Nintendo has long dominated the market when it comes to handheld gaming. Many gamers of a certain age have fond memories of the Game Boy days, and even now, the Switch is the go-to for portable gaming. Alongside its consoles, Nintendo has many franchises that are basically synonymous with gaming, including Mario and The Legend of Zelda. And yet, the gaming juggernaut has one longstanding issue it just can’t seem to conquer, even with the Switch 2.

Pretty much since Nintendo first introduced controllers with joysticks, it’s had issues with drift. None have been as pronounced as the Joy-Con drift challenges introduced with the Nintendo Switch, which really took the problem up a notch. Many fans hoped the Switch 2 would finally manage to fix the Joy-Con drift problems, but early adopters report similar challenges with Switch 2 controllers. That said, the Switch got better with time, so there’s still hope for the Switch 2.

From N64 Onwards, Joystick Drift Has Plagued Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch has infamous issues when it comes to joystick drift for its Joy-Con controllers. This phenomenon records ghostly input, causing your character or camera to move around even when you’re not touching the joystick. Over the years, frustrated gamers have sought all kinds of solutions to repair their busted Joy-Cons without the cost of replacing them. Depending on the cause for drift, whether it’s built-up dust or debris versus actual hardware issues, your mileage on at-home fixes for Joy-Con drift may vary. But what’s definitely true is that the problem can really make or break your gaming experience.

Although the Switch’s unique controller design seems to have brought the issue to a new level, stick drift is actually a pretty longstanding issue with Nintendo controllers. The NES didn’t have this problem because it used a directional pad, not a joystick. But with the N64’s analog joystick came the first reports of drift. In this case, the controller’s central joystick could wear down, causing the actual stick not to fully come back to the center. The result? Joystick drift.

Similarly, the Wii’s joystick was also prone to eventually developing drift. From the Nunchuck to the traditional Wiimote, characters could start moving on their own after a time. Sometimes, using a compressed air cleaner or recalibrating the controllers could help. But regardless, the N64 and Wii prove that drift, while worse on the Switch, has been a long-term issue for Nintendo hardware.

To be fair, most controllers can develop drift from physical damage or debris, so PlayStation and Xbox controllers aren’t immune. But the Switch’s Joy-Cons seem particularly prone to the problem compared to other modern controllers. This is an issue many hoped would finally be resolved with the new Switch 2 Joy-Cons, but so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Stick Drift Returns on Switch 2, But There’s Still Hope

The Switch 2 upgrades the Joy-Con in a few key ways. The controllers now attach magnetically to the Switch, rather than sliding in. And of course, the Switch 2 Joy-Cons can be used as a mouse, adding a lot of potential for games that simply work better with mouse controls compared to a controller. But one thing they haven’t yet seemed to get rid of is Joy-Con drift.

Despite some improvements, the Joy-Cons for the Switch 2 are pretty similar in overall design to those for the Switch. So, it’s not a surprise that some Switch 2 owners have already reported the return of Joy-Con stick drift. Thus far, it does seem less widespread than the relatively common Joy-Con drift with the Switch. However, the console hasn’t been on the market long, so wear and tear and debris built up won’t have had as much time to settle in.

Nintendo did announce that it will replace Switch 2 Joy-Cons that experience drift, free of charge, even after the warranty expires. This is also true of original Switch Joy-Cons thanks to Nintendo’s free repair program. Announcing that the company will replace Joy-Cons with drift does seem to suggest Nintendo is aware that the Switch 2 hasn’t yet ditched the longstanding issue. That said, it’s early in the lifecycle of the new console.

The original Nintendo Switch wound up improving over time, after the first wave of consoles hit the market. For instance, the console was more prone to overheating, and many experienced Joy-Con drift pretty early on. But later models improved many of these issues, including Joy-Con drift. Though still a problem with later Switch consoles, it wasn’t as widespread as it was with the earliest renditions. So, there’s still hope that Nintendo could make minor but significant improvements to the Switch 2 Joy-Con in the next few years that might just eradicate Joy-Con stick drift. For now, though, it looks to be an issue that will persist with this next generation as it has for many prior Nintendo consoles.

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