Explanation of Joy-Con Drift Problem in Nintendo Switch

The owners were Nintendo Switch Suffer from problems With removable Joy-Con controllers in the console for years now, with users Report an alien joystick drift Problems causing wrong entries were Grow steadily over time As the original Switch machines progressed.

Since then report Kotaku From July 2019, to the spotlight on the Joy-Con drift issue, Nintendo has changed its policies drastically. The company will now repair Animated Joy-Con controllers for freeEven if your controllers are outside of normal warranty. But Nintendo didn’t change the design of its consoles, and it’s still an issue today, even on Switch models have been updated That launched last year.

If you are looking for more information on the issue, here’s the current situation:

What is Joy-Con Drift?

Joy-Con drift is an issue that Switch owners have encountered over the past few months that causes the analog sticks to move on the consoles randomly and enter commands into the console, even when it’s not actually moved.

Anecdotally, the issue appears to affect the left-hand Joy-Con controllers (which tend to use motion in most games) more than Right half From a control group. Although there have been reports of users experimenting with it on both joysticks. A quick (and not very scientific) survey of edge Employees revealed that some Switch owners have reported multiple consoles encountering the problem, while others have never tested it, which appears to be reflected in reports around the internet.

What Causes Joy-Con Drift?

There are two possible causes of drifting: Some users blame the problem on dust or debris making their way into the console under a rubber cover designed to keep the interior clean.

others Completely disassembled for the console And finding outdated contacts, which may be the cause of the problem due to frequent use. It’s also possible that none of these theories are correct or are a combination of factors that cause the stick to deflect over time. Without Nintendo explaining the situation, It’s hard to know Exactly what is wrong.

How do I fix the problem?

As mentioned above, it’s not entirely clear what is causing the problem, which makes fixing it difficult. One possible solution is to make sure that you are running the latest Switch or to Recalibrate the analog sticks To make sure it is not a software problem.

Some users I also tried Using compressed air or isopropyl alcohol to fix the problem, although success appears to vary widely. Others have taken the more drastic step to completely replace the joystick – a more difficult repair that will void your warranty, if it works at all.

What is Nintendo doing about affected consoles?

After outraging the issue in July 2019, Nintendo began repairing affected consoles for free. Vice News Reports Nintendo has directed its customer support team to repair Joy-Con controllers for free and issue refunds for prior repairs, even if they are no longer under warranty.

Nintendo now It even has a dedicated area for its support site Joy-Con repair requests: Simply fill out the form and Nintendo will coordinate your return, ensure that controllers have the problem, and either repair or replace the controllers.

Other than that, Nintendo offers a standard 90-day warranty (for accessories, which appear to include Joy-Con controllers purchased separately) and 12 months (for consoles, which appear to include the Joy-Con controllers included with the Switch).

If you’re out of warranty, you’ve already been a Reddit user It reported costs $ 40 for an out-of-warranty repair, Which is roughly the cost of one replacement Joy-Con controller. (They run for $ 50 individually or $ 80 as a pair). So far, there have been no announcements of an extended warranty for controllers.

When the issue was first revealed, Nintendo commented:

At Nintendo, we pride ourselves on producing the highest quality products and are constantly working on making improvements to them. We are aware of recent reports that some Joy-Con controllers are not responding properly. We want our customers to have fun with the Nintendo Switch, and if anything falls short of this goal, we always encourage them to visit. http://support.nintendo.com So we can help.

Is there anyone suing Nintendo?

Back in 2019Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith law firm File a class action Against Nintendo, alleging that Joy-Con controllers are defective due to drift issues, and the company is actively seeking more Switch owners to join the lawsuit. This lawsuit is still in progress, with Company recently ordered For users to submit drift videos to help prove the issue has caused issues for Nintendo customers.

In addition, a second class business suit It was filled in California Around the same number in October 2020.

Is drifting an issue on Switch Lite?

It’s unclear if the Switch Lite is affected equally when it comes to joystick deflection – reports vary online, and it doesn’t seem like there has been the same level of protest (or Nintendo replacement program) for the smaller Switch model. But the Switch Lite doesn’t have removable controllers, so if it’s been experiencing similar issues with stick drift, the situation could be a lot worse. In this scenario, users will not be able to switch the console to fix it.

Update July 24, 2019: Added Information Nintendo may quietly fix Joy-Cons with this issue for free.

Update October 6, 2020: Updated information on the current status of Joy-Con drift issues, Nintendo’s repair policy, and a new class action lawsuit against the company has been added.