
We’ve all been there: It’s final boss battle, and you’re ready to execute the perfect combo to beat the game you’ve invested weeks of your life into... Then suddenly – your left Joy-Con stops responding, the combo fails, and you’ve been defeated yet again. It's a frustrating inconvenience experienced by many Switch owners the world over – but there is hope.
Nintendo recently registered a new filing with the Federal Communications Commission, indicating that they may have a hardware fix in the works for Joy-Con L. Based on this filing, it appears they may even release an entirely new controller.
Of course, no concrete details have been confirmed, but it looks like Nintendo is taking the issue seriously – an improvement from their position last year. When Forbes questioned them about the number of complaints they’d received in March of 2017, they simply stated:
“The number is not significant. The total number of repair or replacement requests for Nintendo Switch, including for Joy-Con, is consistent with what we’ve seen for any new hardware Nintendo has launched.”
For those feeling less patient about the Switch’s glitches: Hori’s new D-pad enabled version of Joy-Con L is scheduled for release in July – although apparently, it won’t include an accelerometer or gyroscope… because we just can’t have nice things. Here’s hoping we hear more about Nintendo’s hardware update plans soon!
Have you experienced connectivity issues with your Joy-Con? Are there other issues occurring with your Switch that have yet to be addressed? Let us know in the comments below...
[source apps.fcc.gov, via forbes.com, hori.jp]
Comments 53
Connectivity issues? What about a proper d pad? 😭
Joy-Con stability, commence!
I still have rare connection issues with my Joycon but only when it's really far away. I'm surprised that to fix the manufacturing error they have to redesign the insides, I thought it could be a simple fix.
Yeah, recently tried to call Nintendo for the repair, warranty expired and they were charging over $100 for the whole diagnosis and repair, no thanks. Kinda feel cheated as that should pretty much be a recall.
I've bought my switch at launch and never had any connection issue with my joy-con. But i saw lots of People saying they had in switch early days so maybe nintendo is doing this upgrade to avoid new problems.
Edit:
It also could be a D-pad joy-con as it is specifically the left one.
Seriously, that D-Pad is sorely missed. Can't believe Nintendo never made an offical (probably overpriced) add-on for left joycons
I actually had to send both joy cons in, both were not snapping back to the center, aka the camera or character kept moving even if my fingers weren’t on the sticks. Nintendo covered the charges for me.
So yeah, it definitely seems to be an issue they need to address.
Hori’s new D-pad enabled version of Joy-Con L is scheduled for release in July – although apparently, it won’t include an accelerometer or gyroscope.…
I know in Splatoon 2, the motion controls are dictated exclusively by the right Joy-Con, so this was probably a cost cutting measure because they think it simply isn't needed. Good luck playing Super Mario Odyssey with those, though.
"We've all been there" ??? I haven't experienced that issue.
Anyway, I recall Nintendo talking about the possibility of other controllers early on anyway, with the Switch being modular. So the idea that we would get new joy-cons eventually isn't too shocking.
Used them a ton, never had an issue.
It's a frustrating inconvenience experienced by many Switch owners the world over....
I have owned a Switch since launch and have ran into this issue just once. I can't even call it an inconvenience at that rate.
Interesting, I thought this was already addressed a long time ago. My launch left joycon had the desync issue and it was really annoying, but I was able to get it repaired. My neon yellow joycons never had the issue, though, so I’d imagine this is something different.
Ive had my system since launch and never had a drop out in single joy con or dual. Glad cause i understand the frustration and feel for people with this problem. Ill invest in a new set later on down the road. Bet the first version will be worth more money later on as well.
My launch left joycon joystick no longer registers full up or down until a few seconds later. Luckily I have a second pair. Still sad though.
This issue annoyed me so much I just ended up buying a pro controller.
Joy Con with a proper D Pad and a Pro Controller with a headphone jack, please?
my left joycon moves up randomly in connectivity issues all the time.
Kind of off topic but is switch dock bending still a thing?
My left joycon would really only experience issues if a part of me got in the way. I exclusively use the pro controller when playing docked now so that solved my problem. Even in tabletop with joycons, everything's positioned so that no part of me gets in the way.
Good for them. Though aside from a few times in the weeks after purchase, I've not had any connectivity issues so it's largely been a non-problem for me, thankfully.
“Radiated Spurious Emission”?!? Note to self: keep joycons away from lap.
I’ve never had an issue with it disconnecting. I’ll be kind of ticked if they release an improved one and all us early adaptors get screwed, though.
I put up with a dodgy left joy con for a few months because the pro controller is my go to controller but my partner eventually got too annoyed with it so I took it back to EB Games and got an instant replacement. No need for waiting weeks on Nintendo's end.
This is just another rumor mill thing propagated by our resident news wizards.
I sent both of my left joy cons back. If I kicked back and my knee or foot got in between it and the Switch it wouldn’t respond to stick movement or button presses. They “fixed” them and sent them back in a week for free. I’ve only noticed an issue once since then. So they are better.
@Heavyarms55 same
I believe the problem was more rampant than “standard new hardware hiccups”. It happened to me and the other two Switch owners I know. Thought I could live with it, but finally sent it in and the improvement was five fold.
Nintendo’s track record has been so solid it still shocks me how touchy a state the joy cons were released in.
1. D pad on the joy con defeats the whole "each one is a controller" thing. It's lack does not bother me.
2. Ive had this issue once I think. It was something weird. Solved by software update. I think it was even attached to the console when the console woulsnt recognize it. But I think it was the right joy con.
Got my Switch a few days after launch and knew instantly my left Joy Con had a problem. I ended up playing Zelda almost exclusively on the Switch because of the problem...until I got Mario Kart. Now my whole family participates and I can't in good faith saddle my wife or daughter with a busted Joy-Con. I've been meaning to.contact Nintendo about it. I've just been lazy. Plus, I got a pro controller which has helped been huge
Of the very few times I actually tried using the joycons while my pro controller was charging, I did have the left joycon issue. Which pretty much made it so i'll never let my pro controller die again. Joycons suck.
Huh, I thought they had nipped this problem. I had a launch console and started noticing the dreaded JoyCon L issues after putting it through the paces in Mario Kart Deluxe. I sent it in and got it fixed, and the second set of neon red JoyCons I picked up last May never gave me any issues at all.
Mine has issues and can't keep a connection from 3 meters onwards.
I haven't sent it to Nintendo, as I had to wait a long time for it to be fixed. A consequence of the switch's popularity.
I'm going to fix it myself sometime. The yellow ones perform better.
My left joycon specifically won't snap all the way into place. So I have had it accidentally slide off occasionally. But it isn't that much of a bother, so I didn't contact Nintendo about it. Aside from that, I haven't noticed any problems with the joycons, mainly since I don't use them. I just use the Mayflash PS4 USB drive since it has gyroscope support.
For those complaining about a joycon with D-pad, just wait for the hori left joycon and it’ll be cheaper. It doesn’t make sense to use it except when it’s connected to the switch in handheld mode — unless you can point out something I’m missing.
I also never had a problem with the connectivity with it and the switch. A few times it seemed like it wasn’t charging, but that’s it.
I hope this will be a 'single player home edition' type that will make the joy cons chunkier for easier grip, introduce d-pad and fixes the positioning of the sticks. I love playing on TV holding them separately in my hands, much more comfortable, I can put my wrist in neutral position. That's how I played in the Wii era with the controler and nunchuck and it was my favourite set up.
I bought a Pro Controller and I've not had a problem with JoyCon's since.
@Yoshi The main problem with Hori's D-pad joycon is it doesn't have wireless - it only works in handheld mode.
I've never really had any connectivity problems that I've noticed, but the latch on my left joy-con has broken slightly so it just lifts out now instead of being held in place. So if Ninty have a replacement with a d-pad or something in the offing that would be a great excuse to upgrade!
These news are 2 days old... C'mon!
My left joy-con is fine. The right one however decides not to work intermittently. Seems to be a connection issue as if I raise it in the air a bit it is OK.
It took me a while to get used to saying 'wiimote' back in the day. Joy-Con sounds like someone's prison nickname. I'll adapt. <beavis &butthead laugh here>.
Never had any problems with my Joy-Cons. Then again, the games I've played so far probably won't have weared them down much.
Things might change with Super Smash Bros. That game is tough on the left stick.
@chrisy
same problem here - 2m away and my left Joy Con (the Splatoon neon pink version) doesn't always respond even though there is nothing in its path. Especially in very hectic fights playing Doom, this can be very annoying.
I haven't had any problems with my Joy-Con, left or otherwise as of yet. But I likely haven't had my Switch as long as those who do.
We constantly have issues with the joy cons. It is a daily occurrence and very frustrating. We just got our switch Spring 18 so maybe the problems are present in later date manufactured parts.
@OptometristLime Except it's not a rumor.
@Alikan
I'd call Nintendo about that. My second joycon that had the problem was actually outside of the warranty date, and Nintendo said they'd still cover the fees. It just depends on who you get, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
@KareBear79
I'd call Nintendo and tell them. They will repair or replace the joy cons especially since you have a brand new system. You're well within the warranty.
I just had my left joy con act up this last weekend. It would not charge. I fixed it by un-pairing them from the console then reconnecting. Worked like a charm. Makes me anxious that it's only the beginning though. They're Splatoon pink/green joy cons and I've not seen them sold outside of the bundle I bought.
a new left joycon might come bundled with smash with a dpad?
I've only had one issue with my left one. It wasn't responsive enough to control Mario's movement in Odyssey. So much for their lengthy recommendation that you play with the joy-cons separated (seriously, that screen stays on way too long).
I was trying it out on the Darker Side level, but had to give up when he kept jumping off the poles in the wrong direction right into the lava.
If they are working on a new left joycon because if its disconnecting issue then they might as well add a real d pad the way the original nintendo controllers had. Why fix the left joy con connectivity issue and not handle the dpad issue we all most want
@Kevember Then It Wouldn't Be Multiplayer Anymore
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