Joy-Con drift has been one of the Switch’s biggest hardware problems for years. Now Nintendo seems to have found a simple solution to this. Or?
For years, more and more Switch owners have been complaining about drift problems with their Joy-Con. The controller registers movements of the analog stick even though it is not actuated. A permanent solution through repairs did not seem to be found – until now. It looks like Nintendo has taken a small measure that could make drifting Joy-Con a thing of the past.
On the occasion of the recent release of the Special Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Twitter user @Mario_RPG_Fan opened his controller and noticed that two strips had been attached to the back of the opening from which the stick protrudes. These should serve to exert pressure on the technology from within. Just two weeks ago, the YouTuber VK’s Channel published a video in which he described this method as a permanent solution. The underlying cause of Joy-Con drift is that the components loosened over time. The necessary pressure can be maintained with a thin piece of paper.
In this respect, it is an interesting coincidence that this also appears to be Nintendo’s official solution so shortly afterwards. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa apologized for the problems with the hardware, but at the same time the issue was downplayed by the authorities. The meager statements frustrated many customers. Since Nintendo is still confronted with a class action lawsuit regarding the drift, the reluctance is at least understandable from a legal point of view. Even the EU is considering taking action against Nintendo. As a workaround, Nintendo seems to continue to offer free repairs.
However, some comments under the tweet note that older models of their Joy-Con also have the two strips, but the attachment seems to have been anything but comprehensive. In some cases, users of Joy-Con-Drift report despite this addition.