Nintendo's Joy-Con headache is only just beginning, with the company now facing a class-action lawsuit relating to the drifting analogue sticks on its innovative Switch controllers. The company has issued a statement on the matter, and – given its above-average track record on this kind of thing – we don't doubt for a second that it will take the appropriate course of action to make sure its customers are happy, but the timing of this particular problem couldn't be worse for truly dedicated Nintendo fans, like myself – because it throws into doubt an impending hardware purchase.
In September, Nintendo will release the Switch Lite, the first of what could be several different hardware variants of the base console. The focus of the Switch Lite is portability – so much so that it sacrifices the ability to connect to your TV – and one of the ways that Nintendo has ensured it is as robust as possible is to remove the Joy-Con controllers entirely. Instead, the sticks and buttons are hardwired into the machine, very much like a traditional handheld like the 3DS or PS Vita. I'm pretty sure you can see where this is headed.
Once those sticks start misbehaving, the whole console is effectively junked
While the Joy-Con issue is annoying, at least you can switch (no pun intended) to your spare set of controllers, or simply repair or replace them as they fail. Not an ideal situation by any stretch of the imagination – especially when you consider that it can cost you as much as $40 / $50 for Nintendo to repair a single Joy-Con in the US – but at least you have the option of swapping out a defective Joy-Con for a working one and your base console is unaffected. You're not going to have that option with the Switch Lite; once those sticks start misbehaving, the whole console is effectively junked.
For this reason, I'm going to avoid buying a Switch Lite at launch. Given the not inconsiderable amount of cash involved, there's no way I'm willing to take a punt on what could become defective hardware in the space of a few months. To be honest, it's always a wise policy to wait and see before buying any piece of new technology; early production issues come to light quickly and manufacturers fix them as they appear (remember the Joy-Con problem we had back at launch? Nintendo fixed that post-haste). Still, Nintendo's track record in this regard is better than most (I still remember getting my DS Lite repaired free of charge many years after purchase because of a cracked hinge) and I had set my heart on owning one of these little beauties on day one, but I've put that dream to bed until I know for sure the company has fixed things up. Sure, Nintendo's warranty will cover you for 12 months, but what if it fails after you've owned it for a year? Also, what if you don't have Nintendo Switch Online and haven't backed up your save data? Worse still, what if you've sunk hundreds of hours into one of the many games that don't support cloud saves, even to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers?
Of course, there's the slim chance that the Switch Lite uses an entirely different analogue mechanism to the existing Joy-Con controllers – perhaps something closer to the stupidly robust stick seen on the Switch Pro Controller – but I'd argue that's unlikely. Based on the images we've seen so far, the stick design is practically identical to the Joy-Con one, and I doubt Nintendo would be able to fit the larger analogue mechanism seen in the Pro Controller into the much thinner profile of the Switch Lite.
Based on the images we've seen so far, the stick design is practically identical to the Joy-Con one
There's also the chance that Nintendo has already fixed this problem in production and that the Switch Lite's mechanism will be drift-proof, but given the timing of the lawsuit, I'd suspect that's perhaps wishful thinking. With the console due for release in just over a month, it will already be sitting in warehouses waiting to be shipped out – in short, it's probably too late for a fix, at least in this first run of machines.
This is, of course, conjecture on my part, but there's another issue to discuss here. What if there isn't a fix for Joy-Con drift? No one seems to know categorically what causes the problem; some have argued that it's dust and other debris getting into the controller and causing 'phantom' inputs, while others have found signs that the mechanism doesn't stand up well to prolonged use. Could it be that the Joy-Con stick simply isn't as well-designed as we think it is? That's a situation which doesn't even bear thinking about, as it means that every single Joy-Con on the planet (and every single Switch Lite, come September) could be on borrowed time.
I'm probably being overly sceptical there, and I'm sure that Nintendo's hardware boffins can find a way to solve this particular problem. However, until I know for sure it's fixed, I'm holding off buying a Switch Lite – and I highly recommend you do the same.
Has the Joy-Con drift issue made you reconsider your purchasing choice with the Switch Lite? (635 votes)
- No, I still intend to buy one
- No, I had no plans to buy one
- Yes, I'm holding off until I know it's fixed
Please login to vote in this poll.
Comments 265
If only there was a cheap and simple way to replace them.
Oh wait, there totally is.
People saying the drift is not a design problem is a little bit of a Flat Earth situation.
I won't be getting one at launch anyway. So that's a few months for people to do breakdowns and whatnot.
And this wasn't a problem with all the other handheld consoles?
People always have problems with their sticks, triggers and the likes, even the screens, and that hasn't stopped them from buying a new handheld, so I don't think this is any different.
I guess you can always wait a few months to see if they solved the problems anyway.
@StevenG we shouldn’t have to replace them. You’re buying a product that should work out the box and not need fixing after just a year. Also, the switch lite may not be as easy to fix. We don’t know yet.
It’s clear it’s an issue and the general consensus is that it’s a design fault. Nintendo do needs to take action to sort this out for the future and have a solution for previous buyers. We should not be making excuses for them or belittling others for raising the issue. Nintendo is at fault and they need to do something about it.
I want one for my little one at launch but...maybe I should just hold fire and see how it goes. There’s always this sense of “false scarcity” at launch but lo, months later there will be millions available.
I like the joycons. I have 2 sets but I won’t buy another until they upgrade the stick fixture as for the lite, it seems a little different so we can only wait and see
The good price for the Lite will be $149.
No Dock
No Switch TV/HH
No Joycons
No 2 players mode
No tabletop mode
No Labo/Mario Party/1-2 Switch/Snipperclip etc...
No 6.2" screen
No HDMI cable
For the same price you get really better preowned system + games.
Oh, Nintendo. What have you got into now. Well, it wouldn’t be a man-made machine if there wasn’t some way to ‘effectively junk’ it.
I’ll stick with my switch that switches. I normally only use it in handheld anyway. And my Joy-Con don’t drift. (But I know how annoying it becomes via my friend’s switch. I even made a SMM2 course that is as annoying as drift.)
But, the Lite is still a good deal.
@S4ndm4n Everything wears out. Everything has to be replaced.
That part will be the same, it's an easy fix.
Nintendo picked a bad part, without a total redesign I don't see another solution.
More like ‘Sorry Nintendo, a downgraded featureless system that doesn’t even live up to its namesake functionality, is the reason I won’t be buying a Switch Lite at all.’ Oh yeah and that whole drift thing too.
If you have issues with the controller, why not contatct Nintendo and get them fixed?
Do not mind me please, just waiting until a guy with some “different buttons” reacts to the simple fact that 100% of all Switch owners who are experiencing this Joy-Con drifting are just filthy people with dirty rooms/houses and not take care of their houses. Mind you do also not forget that Nintendo should not do anything about these controllers that are faulty since day one.
While I am at it I am also waiting for a guy who never heard of laws protecting consumers from faulty product that are out or in the period of warranty. Because people cannot complain to a company that creates luxury goods (that are once again faulty).
@StevenG they should redesign it then. Things wear out but you don’t expect it to last less than a year. My launch PS4 controller still works perfectly. Even my 3DS after years of use has no issues
I don't think I had a drift issue with my joycons, but I did have the disconnect issue back around launch, which is irrelevant since that's fixed lol.
@PCkid All of the games you listed except for the Labo kits will function with the Switch Lite. You can still wirelessly connect JoyCon to the Switch Lite and play in tabletop mode. And Snipperclips works perfectly fine as a single player game, as well.
When you stop and think about it I suppose those joysticks do go through a serious amount of strain. I've had mine over two years and despite constant use they still work fine. What is an acceptable amount of time for something to work until it wears out? My phone is a year older than my switch and it's pretty much dead now but as a society we seem to deem that acceptable. Back in the day I went through plenty of controllers for my mega drive and N64, we just viewed it as changing a spare part. There is a difference between a fault and wear and tear.
As much as I like handheld game systems, the fixed buttons are still susceptible to normal wear and tear over time. Nothing lasts forever, but an advantage of external controllers is that those merely need to be repaired or replaced. You don't have to submit the whole unit. It's why I'm still opting for a normal Switch (Well, the revision with better battery life) when I do finally grab one later this year.
Even IF the JoyCon problem is real (which it isn't people aren't using the controllers correctly) there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON IT WOULD AFFECT THE SWITCH LITE AT ALL.
Because? The Pro Controller actually has the SAME sticks as the JoyCon (technically), they are just a bit larger. Also the Joy-Con drift only exists in the L Joy-Con. Also the controller being part of the main circuit makes it an easier assemblage and less prone to manufacturer's defects.
@SakurabaNeku Joycon drift seems to be a more common and crippling issue than what afflicted their other handhelds.
Like, the original 3DS scratched its own top screen, but the system was still perfectly playable.
Yes everyone protest these drifting sticks. That way I might be able to get one on launch instead of having to wait several months like I did with the first round of Switches.
They copied this whole system form the Dreamcast 2 handheld and soon SEGA will burn them at the stake for their sins.
As much as I love the Switch (probably my fav console of all time), I'm glad this drift issue has become a bigger deal lately
Does Joycon drift work in reverse at the equator????
@thesilverbrick
Table top is not available on the LITE ! They even removed the kickstand.
Now, how to justify playing HANDHELD if it's to play with an extra cost contoller... ? That makes no sense.
And if you're ready to pay a handheld $200 and to add $60 for a Pro Controller ehmmm, buy a standard Switch then. LOL
@StevenG why should buyers have to spend more money for reparations when they already spent alot on the product ? that's not right.
Yeah! Don't buy the Switch lite. Nintendo's storied history of releasing broken unusable hardware that doesn't last over time should be a dire warning to us all. You can't trust Nintendo to put out a quality product. They absolutely would never make improvements to an iteration on recent hardware. If you buy into the Switch lite its you're own fault for trusting a companies with such a deep well of consistently failing hardware products that certainly don't remain functional for decades.
Does anyone care to explain what this actually feels like?
I've own two switches myself and played with dozens and never experienced it, I must be pretty lucky.
The term "joycon drift" sounds like the sticks act as if they're moving when they aren't?
I used to have stuff like that on my Gamecube on a rare occasion, was super annoying.
@PCkid You can play without a kickstand. You can lay the Switch Lite flat on a table or prop it up. The kickstand on the original Switch is trash anyway. And if you buy a Switch Lite and a pro controller, it’s still cheaper than a regular Switch, plus you have an extra pro controller now.
I have no interest in the Switch Lite because I like playing docked, so clearly it’s not intended for me, but there are plenty of people who just want to play on the go and this is a great option for them.
@SakurabaNeku I can't say it was a problem with previous handhelds, or at least any common fault wasn't an issue with the unit itself but with the user. It was rarely ever a widespread problem like with the Joycons. Even when there was a common issue in the design such as with the 3DS's original design scratching its own screen, you could still play it, you can't keep playing with a drifting Joycon without copious amounts of frustration.
Handhelds by design will always be a bugger to fix when they break due to everything being on one unit and they're prone to damage due to them being intended to be carried around rather than staying stationary like a home console.
The Gameboy was never notorious for the B button breaking though, the GBA wasn't well known for having faulty triggers, the DS's touch screen wasn't prone to not registering inputs after about 8 months. Any issues that were common like broken hinges or crap getting under the buttons were the fault of the person using it, and we didn't blame Nintendo because we all knew when it was our own fault (note: I never had these issues, but they obviously happened).
Joycon drift on the other hand? It ranges from people who use docked only to handheld only, those who take it everywhere to those who won't leave the house with it, those who use it 24/7 and those who use it an hour every now and again, those who get food all over the damn thing to those who basically won't touch it without washing their hands first. There's no common thread with all the Joycon issues, it's just almost like they've got an expiration date on them.
THIS is why people are complaining about Nintendo and the Switch when it comes to the drift fault, because it is a fault with the console/controller itself and there's not much the consumer can do about it other than get it fixed or replaced with a new set of overpriced flimsy Joycons that will probably end up having the same issue sooner or later.
And for the record: I had Joycon drift in my old pair. I rarely play the thing and it had spent about 2 weeks inside a travel case on my shelf, only to pick it up and somehow have the issue despite it being fine the last time I played it.
"that it can cost you as much as $40 / $50 for Nintendo to repair a single Joy-Con in the US"
Come again? I bought two new ones for $70 this spring, in Belarus. Yikes.😳
Ontopic, I already commented the other day that I've had stick issues on almost every platform that had sticks (only my DualShock 4 still holds up, but no cookie for calculating my usage statistics in its regard). On top of that, one of my DS Lites eventually lost use of a shoulder button (R, I think). Whether JC drift issue disappears over time and production or not, this whole deal just serves to remind me just how much of a game changer Switch's clip-on controllers have become for me.
@Nintendrone They shouldn't and they don't have to, if you send them back to Nintendo they replace them for free.
That's not the point the person was making.
Personally if the choice was between sending it back and getting it fixed for free but losing my console for a couple of days/weeks, or simply replacing the sticks myself for less than £4 and in a few minutes, I'd rather do that than wait to have it repaired free any time.
I think the point the person was making was when an issue is so rare and so easily solved, it's quite sad that people are making this much noise about it. This doesn't suggest it isn't Nintendo's fault or that it isn't their responsibility to fix those issues that arise, or remove blame off them at all.
It simply says it's a minor issue, which it is.
@S4ndm4n I bought my PS4 in December .... last week I had to send my controller because it had joystick drifting .... 6 months.... 6 freaking months
My Switch has 2 years and doesn’t have this drift
I would expect most people on that website to already own a Switch, so I really don't get why anyone would want a Switch Lite, Joycon drift or not.
@KcebEnyaw But this is a problem with the controllers, not the console.
If they were going to fix the issue, I don't understand why they haven't already done so when the issue lies with an integral accessory they can easily sell separately.
It's not a console revision that the Switch needs, it's a simple redesign of the controllers that they could have done anytime in the past 2 years which would have benefited everybody without having to buy an entirely new console...But they haven't. They've outright dropped the ball in this regard.
@SakurabaNeku Which is why the original Switch is genius. I always worry about handhelds having a piece break off. Being be to snap the remotes off and get replacements is a good fix (not including the drift issue). The Switch Lite feels like a step back but I know a lot of people are waiting for it.
Honestly, the Switch feels like the ultimate design choice. I wonder how anything can top it. The pick up and go aspect is just so great.
@Ralizah I know that, believe me, our left Joy-Con started Tokyo Drift(ing) a few months ago, and we can't even send it to Nintendo or try to fix it ourselves as we don't have the money or the tools to do it, but that doesn't mean other people can't do it, and those people are the ones who will be buying on launch day surely. As for the rest, they can always wait a few months or keep playing their OG Switch till Nintendo decides to address the situation.
@Tao Who has needed to buy an entire new console?
The majority of joycons don't experience this issue, buying a new pair of them would solve it 99% of the time.
Also if you contact Nintendo with a joycon stick issue they happily repair or replace them for free anyway.
Unless you have had joycon issues like 4-5 times in a row and are trying something new, there is no reason anybody would need to buy a new console.
I've have 4 pro controllers in the past two years. Only 1 is working properly now.
The only reason I will buy one is because the teal colored one looks amazing. And.... I might just keep it in the box unopened, and then sell it for $500 ten years from now lol. I don't know.
I think they are super cute, but it honestly doesn't offer me anything that my current Switch doesn't already do. It's kind of pointless for me. In fact, I would have preferred to buy a regular Nintendo Switch that had that same teal color pattern.
As for a system to replace the 3DS as Nintendo's go-to handheld system, It should have ticked the following boxes of features:
Then.... the Switch Lite would have been a thing, and I would have for sure bought one. But... as it stands, it's a Switch with less features than the Switch, smaller screen, and wrapped in a pretty shell.
@PCkid what? They’ve confirmed tabletop mode works with Lite, they just, as you said, removed the kickstart. But they’ve confirmed players can connect other controllers to play in tabletop mode if they prop up the Switch with something. It’s far from ideal but it is doable.
@ShadJV I'll be honest, my kickstand broke after I had my switch for a couple weeks and I haven't played tabletop since.
It's theoretically possible, yes, but too uncomfortable and annoying to truly be worthwhile.
@thesilverbrick yeah, with external JC/Pro connectivity confirmed, I can take back my words of doubt about the naming. While more clumsily, NSL still technically has two modes to switch between (I do assume the OS will be updated/adjusted to recognize the context). Open mouth, insert foot.
@Tao If this issue was as pervasive as people want you to believe it is, Nintendo would have done something about it, like they always do. That's why the pro controller has already had a revision. If you do happen to break your Joycon, Nintendo will repair or replace them. Controllers break, it happens all the time. There is no need to boycott the Switch lite because some peoples joy-cons break.
Anyway, I will give some simple advice.
If you want to buy a Switch lite. Do so.
Make sure, though, you keep the receipt. (Keep it physically AND make a scan / photo of it) also write down the serial number of the Switch Lite.
If you have an OG Switch, don't sell it.
If your Switch Lite starts drifting, directly contact Nintendo to send it in. If you can't contact Nintendo directly, then go to the Store where you bought the Switch. But before you send it in, transfer your account to your OG Switch.
It's pretty simple really - if you've read about the drift then the Lite probably isn't for you, it's for parents to buy for their kids. If you want a 2nd Switch, the New Model Switch BB (for better battery) is probably the way to go.
Drift won't materially affect Lite sales.
@PorllM Nintendo will replace your Kickstand for free too.
This article is based on the assumption that Nintendo has not modified the stick design. No one knows if that is the case at this point. Still, I plan to get a Lite as the Switch is not very portable. It feels too fragile in handheld mode and is too large.
I also wish they would have used the 3DS circle pad. I really like how that feels.
@Nintendrone I don't see why buyers would pay reparations. Who are they making whole? Who was harmed?
I don't think that this drift issue will affect sales at all. If you know enough to be worried about it, you will probably just spend $100 extra for the Switch revision which will be released before the Switch lite and which has much greater battery life and probably other small improvements.
@S4ndm4n They probably should, but for $5 each and 10 minutes of time I am not going to worry about it.
The other problem is that there is a d-pad on the system now, and if it's the same d-pad that the pro controller has, it'll be as inaccurate as that one with no easy fix.
@nilcam You can't really make the circlepad clicky. And that had actually also some "quality" problems.
I've only seen 'drift' when I played docked and I'm not sure if it's the stick issue or the bluetooth issue that was found on early models.
I don't play docked and it doesn't drift handheld so I haven't contacted N about it.
As for the lite; no thanks. Switch 2 yes. Switch smaller and still under-powered? nope.
If they have re-designed the controllers then I will def pick one up or maybe even one of the new switch revisions but if they are the same then absolutely no way. I’m a massive Nintendo fanboy but this issue is the only time I’ve been really really cheesed off with them over. It’s an absolute liberty that they released them in that state and then have the gall to charge people for repairs out of warranty for a faulty product.
@PorllM I never mentioned replacing an entire Switch....Well, original Switch anyway. I'm aware you can just replace the Joycons.
@BensonUii circle pads lack a button underneath them. Also you may wanna pre-order the Sword and Shield Switch, isn't it limited edition?
The joycon drift is real guys, but it's unlikely the Switch Lite will suffer from this, given the amount of drifting joycon Nintendo has got sent back.
Do you know what causes the drifting? @Damo
It's the stick that scratches on some graphite which they put on the base of the mechanism, producing some graphite powder that, when it lands onto the electrical contacts, causes the drifting issue.
That's why they say some contact cleaner spray helps to fix the issue, at least temporarily.
Haven't had any drift with my console (bought used) yet, bought about a year ago? No intention of buying a Lite - I see it as a great option for those who mostly only use it portably though. I like to use it both ways!
The control sticks aren't my utter favourites on the joycons, but they work. I get a little annoyed when I don't get my jump direction correct in Celeste, but I just need to be super conscious and careful which way I direct it. Ultimately I'm probably tired anyways if I'm playing it portably in bed, or I'm alert and playing it with the pro controller on the TV with the much better D pad and stick.
I never really found the 3DS circle pad perfect either. I would find I'd hold it to one side and it might eventually start to slip. Still, I understand how it was made for portability, and it is still a very cool and functional design.
I wish they could make little gamecube style sticks on the Switch with a good D-pad...fingers crossed for a Pro model in coming years! I'm also not going to boycott Nintendo though, lmao.
Fingers crossed I don't get the drift! I'm pretty confident taking electronics apart and fixing them though.
The main beneficiaries of this whole joycon drift exaggerated brouhaha are the websites and You Tube channels who report on it, the class action law firms who are looking to extract money from Nintendo, and the short sellers who will try to create a hysteria in the news media so they can force the share price lower to make money for themselves.
@SuperCharlie78 Thanks Charlie. This is very helpful information if true!
Wonder if sales gonna go down now if gamers has so much problems with drifting so they cant enjoy their games like it suppose to be.
@iakona23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7um_1jr2vg
Joycon apologists need to take a good, long look in the mirror and take stock of what they're doing with their lives.
@KcebEnyaw I know but I don’t use tabletop enough for the time without the console to be worth while. There are replacement metal kickstands last longer and that allow you to do it yourself for like £3, I just haven’t gotten around to getting one.
@Tao sorry yeah I misread the context of the “without everybody needing to buy a new console” part
@SuperCharlie78 Thanks again.
None of the above. I already own a Switch since launch. But my wife's son will get the new base model instead of the Switch Lite. I know Nintendo is very cost concerned and preferably builds their hardware cheap for the most profit but.. damn... This is one of those cases where they just overdue it imo.
I haven't experienced the drift issues because mostly play docked with the Pro Controller. But I'm not one to say it doesn't exist at all because hasn't happened to me. Idk but Nintendo needs to get it together. Cautious consumers who know about this most likely will not even bother with the Lite after acknowledging this.
@Roto13 I am a joycon apologist, but your comment had me laughing out loud!
I would be willing to bet 1000$ that Nintendo was aware and investigating a solution to this LONG before this lawsuit stuff. I agree with the need to hold off for confirmation, but I don’t agree with the assumption in this article that Nintendo was only just now focusing on the issue and therefore the original run of Lite models are automatically defective, that’s an incredibly rash jump to me.
@PorllM eh. I didn’t say tabletop mode worked well without the kickstand, but I was responding to the person that said the Lite has no tabletop mode and therefore can’t play those games. Nintendo themselves stated those games are still playable on the Lite and tabletop mode is still an option. It’s more than theoretically possible, it’s openly being advertised as compatible with said games. It’s definitely worse without a kickstand, I agree, but I wouldn’t care either way because I used tabletop mode precisely twice since I got my Switch launch day. I didn’t think it was an enjoyable feature in the first place, the screen was too tiny for multiplayer, and for single player I prefer handheld mode. But that was my own opinion, I’m sure there’s people who love that feature.
@StevenG right. I agree with you. It is easy. But that shouldn’t mean it’s ok.
My PS4 controller has completely died after only a year, and I barely used the thing.
My PS3 fried itself after two years, was repaired, and then fried itself again a year later and had to be replaced.
My current PS2 is my fifth, as each had failures after only two or three years.
All things considered, the occasional drift is a comparatively minor inconvenience to me.
@SakurabaNeku my kids have had vitas for years, and they have not exactly babied them. the only damages we have seen after years of abuse have been a) a chipped screen after one was dropped on the street and b) a fried motherboard due to having it plugged in during an electrical storm. no drift whatsoever. the vita was phenomenally durable, but given the joy-con issue i would not expect similar durability from the switch lite.
@fafonio Good for you. Doesn't change the fact that is a widespread issue that is iexcusable.
To everyone with their circumstantial stories where they haven't had this issue and therefore=there is no issue.
A pair of my joycons have drift that has cone and gone via cleaning methods.
I own and have owned currently 10/11 console systems. Also a cab and pinball machine.
Out of everything that I have fixed and had failed, the joycon sticks are the only ones where it is clear there is an issue somewhere.
They had an issue way, waay sooner than anything else I have touched (my C64 is tougher)
The behaviour of the drift is more strange than previous drift on other controllers.
Still, just a circumstantial story right?
Except thousands if not millions of others have the same issue exactly.
The drift issue on previous consoles occurred when the analogue stick was held in a direction before and while the console was turned on. Is it possible users are doing this, not knowing the effect?
The analogue stick should be in neutral position as the console is switched on.
Amazed there is still a debate over this issue existing! There is very clearly an issue.
I wouldn't be so fast to assume that the Switch Lite will have the same issue though.
Nintendo may be quite slow in acknowledging the issue, but that doesn't mean they were slow to implement a fix on the Switch Lite.
Keep in mind, the joy-con and the Switch Lite are not being manufactured the same way... very plausible that a difference has been implemented.
@gb_nes_gamer possible for a few cases, but it's definitely not all of them. There's simply too many reports for it to be anything other than a hardware issue. The bigger question for me is whether it's a hardware issue that is as a result of fair wear and tear. I'm not so sure personally as joy-con are not exactly cheap - thus expected lifespan is generally increased.
@bstoppel Back when the Switch came out, countless people did. "We're investigating it," was the response.
@Tao Not that the console doesn't have issues, too. Mine did warp, over time. But it's so minor, and it isn't really affecting my usage of the system itself (for now?).
@rjejr what makes you think parents want to buy things for their kids that break easily? that's not wise spending. i had planned to purchase one at launch for my daughter, but i won't until i can be sure the lite is durable.
Point that current Switch has problems with Joy Cons drift doesnt mean that Switch Lite will also have.
My answer is two fold. First, I am holding off on buying a Switch Lite until Youtuber Spawn Wave does his teardown video. If the mechanism for the analog stick is the same in the Lite as with the joy-cons, then it'll be easy to skip. Secondly, the Lite became irrelevant once Nintendo officially announced the revised stock Switch. The revised Switch with its upgraded chipset will run longer and cooler than the current Switch.
I can't believe, it only took them 2 years for the fanboys to finally admit one of many flaws that the Switch has and just keep giving more money to Nintendo by buying more defective gimmicky controllers
@doll It's a big purchase by any measure so yea, absolutely need to be confident with it.
To be fair though, Nintendo hardware has an exceptional record for durability. Add their equally exceptional repairs service and I honestly think you can have confidence in the purchase.
Issues like this always sound bigger when you arrive on a forum like this... it's genuinely a small minority of players that ever experienced a problem. Think about it - it would be all over the major news websites otherwise.
We (my family) have a Switch with a ton of games. My son really wants the Pokemon Switch Lite. I was going to get him a 2ds xl to replace his 2ds, but now am thinking about the Lite for him because we can play a lot of coop games together with 2 systems. I would very quickly preorder and buy a Swith Lite if I knew the joycons were going to not have this issue. When I make a purchase, regardless of $ amount, I expect the product to work as advertised. If I break or damage a product then I'll pay out of my own pocket to have it fixed or replace it because the fault was mine. I do not want to buy a product, especially for my kids, thinking in the back of my mind that there's a good chance that the product will malfunction in a few months. Nintendo needs to assure me that this issue is fixed before I spend money on a Lite. If not, then I'll probably get a refurbished Switch and throw a Pokemon skin on it for my son. At least then I can replace the joycons indepedently of the whole system.
@sanderev You are wrong I'm afraid. My right joy con started doing it quite often,while playing any game whereby it controlled the camera it would randomly make the camera drift up into a birds eye view position which drove me mad. i have a replacement stick for it but the point stands that this isn't random whereby only a few are affected. My left stick also drifts from time to time,playing Zelda especially. These are my launch ones with the problem. Whether the yellow set i recently bought also do the same? Well, gotta suck it and see on that one,so only time will tell
@KoekiieWoekiie its been proven to be a hardware flaw.
@commentlife my thoughts also. There’s no evidence either way at this point, but I would be very surprised if this continues to be an issue of oversight with the refreshed hardware. I feel it’s reasonable to believe the flaw is addressed with the new models, but we’ll see. But yes, no doubt that the issue has been well logged with them for some time.
@DABYX I thought similar when I started experiencing the issue with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 a few weeks ago. I had to physically fight Rex to keep him from wandering off a ledge (literally since I was trying to navigate tiny platforms. Then I found myself unable to navigate the main menu after turning the console on fresh (not touching the analog sticks, using the d-buttons).
I would hope though with the Switch Mini that they would be using a different design. There is a lot missing from those faux-joy-cons, including the fact they are hardwired in.
@Trajan Yeah I know, my left joy con is also drifting. Maybe I did not write/put it down correctly but I was being sarcastic with my comment because people cannot believe that this is a real issue.
@SakurabaNeku I've owned 5 PSP consoles, 2 Vitas, 2 3DS's and whilst you could question my purchasing habits, not one of them has had a broken analog stick or dodgy buttons despite being thrown into a bag without a case at a moment's notice.
The Joycon issue is Nintendo trying to shave a few pence off manufacturing costs and using graphite for the stick contacts instead of something sturdier.
They should at the very least offer free repairs for 3 years after purchase like Microsoft did with the RROD.
@Ooccoo_Jr What is an acceptable amount of time for something to work until it wears out?
Well, I have NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii and Wii U controllers that still work fine. Also Xbox and Playstation controllers dating back to the first systems that work fine. GBA, DS and 3DS too.
People have to accept that Nintendo failed on controller quality this gen and stop making excuses for Nintendo.
Special edition consoles and additional colors and so on is why I would probably hold off.
If the sticks are exactly the same, then chances are pretty high that they start drifting too. I think the whole problem is the skirt. I don't get why its there in the first place. The skirt lifts up during gameplay, and then dirt and dust gets inside. A drop of alcohol works for me, but only for a few weeks. Sending the joycons in seems pointless: I have heard several times that the problem comes back after a while. Buying new ones isn't a safe bet either: They often start drifting after a while too.
If Nintendo is really proud about the quality they normally deliver, they should make solving this problem their top priority!
@PCkid No kidding!!
Good article guys. I definetly wouldnt buy one due to this exact issue. Traded in my first 2 sets of joycon due to desynching issues. Wasn't super mad, that was an early adopter issue I said to myself. In April this year, the Splatoon joycons I got in 2018 started left drifting. Then the Mario Red ones I ordered from Japan in Dec started drifting a little over a month ago. The left Hori dpad joycon I have been using now has been desynching every 5 minutes with Marvel Ultimate 3. Nintendo Life, can I please swear? I am so ******** mad. 4 times 80 plus 20 bucks for the Hori is arpund $350 dollars when you add tax. Mostly play my games docked too!
Luckily ninty are making a lot of money as this is going to be a costly fix by the looks of it...
I just can't figure out how you kids keep managing to break everything...
@daveh30 I think it’s mario karts fault! The sticks take an extra beating during those frustrating races!
NL should do a poll to see if all drifting joy con owners also have MK8
@thesilverbrick Out of the box ! You can't.
There is no reason to buy extra stuffs to do something (and still less) that the original Switch does... lol
@StevenG I am going to buy a new one and swap out the internals and return it so no one is the wiser, if Nintendo doesn't come up with an acceptable solution I just provided one and suggest everyone does the same if they have the screw bit for it.
@Crono1973 I've seen a dual shock with weak springs that causes drift. And N64 had a physical problem with the stick, although somehow mine are mostly fine (my main one has some wobble, but I retired it. My others that I use have been opened up, cleaned, and greased). @KoekiieWoekiie Oh ok. Gotcha.
@daveh30 I am 33 and treat my stuff great and it happened to my wife's and mine and we bought almost a year apart.
It's all about how thick the base of the analog stick components are. On the Joycons, they are thin because they are stuff just above the Joycon batteries (which are thick). The Lite won't have those additional batteries, yet the thickness of the entire unit remains the same, giving plenty of room for those analog sticks with a thicker base.
@Jokerwolf If I was going to commit fraud I wouldn't announce it online.
They probably make more money selling extra joycons than on the console itself
@Sjmaster who is saying its excusable? I'm saying that its not tied only to Switch or Nintendo for that matter... Dualshock controllers are crap too ... at least in my experience.
So.... CHILL
To be fair, the system hasn’t been released yet. Maybe the controls have been fixed. I’ve never had a problem with my original 3DS, the XL, or the New XL. I only upgraded those, once the first time for the screen size, and the second time for the nicer specs (Xenoblade, amiibo, etc.) I now regret every upgrade... I should have stuck with my launch one. I took great care of it and now I miss a small 3DS. Only had a problem with my Wii U Gamepad twice. First the touchscreen was messed up, but I blame a power surge and not Nintendo. It was storming and we had an outage while I was using it plugged up. The second time is with the right stick. Which I haven’t had the chance to fix since Nintendo wants over $100. I’ll repair it myself someday I suppose. The joy-cons are the only things that have given me legitimate trouble. All my game controllers throughout my whole life get a little worn, but stayed functional. Except my NES Advantage. Had that since I was 4 and I beat almost every game imaginable on it. That thing bit the dust before I was a teenager. Lol. But yeah. These joy cons are really a problem. And whats crazy is the drifting stops sometimes, and I can play in peace, but will come back full force at the worst times. Like playing split screen Mario Kart and it goes nuts on your little brother when he’s down visiting you, causing him to lose and cry.
Ok bro - Nintendo
@StevenG I know a bunch of people who do this, not our fault the warranty is so limiting.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who ONLY play their Switch in handheld mode and never docked to a TV. Switch games look AMAZING at 1080p on a big screen... even my 75". Handheld-only users are really missing out on an expanded experience.
Switch Lite is a bad deal and overpriced. A non-Switching "Switch", handicapped in too many ways, lacking user-repairability of the most-damaged part by virtue of (non)removable joy-cons. And the biggest inexcusable travesty? The inability to dock or in any way connect to a TV and truly be worthy of the name "Switch". I can see not including the dock, but NOT preventing TV-out entirely. Nintendo are being real dicks by saving a whopping $0.10 on the chip necessary to send video out the USB-C port (not making up the figure, that's the cost of the chip in qty from Alibaba. Max I saw was $1.50).
@Jokerwolf I too know of criminals, that doesn't mean I support what they do.
The warranty is as described, if you don't like it you can buy an additional third party warranty or not buy the product.
@sremick How does this change the repairability of joycons?
The procedure will be the same. Open shell, remove old stick, put new one in.
Thanks
@StevenG Nope I will be doing my superior plan, I have all the bit tips I need for every console so no worries here. Every other controller I have (some more than 20 years old) don't drift. This is unacceptable from something built in 2019 let alone 20 years ago.
I'm used to my phones magically having issues past their warranty expiration date. I wonder why it becomes such a big deal when it's Nintendo.
I mean, yes, it's annoying and it shouldn't happen, but why is Nintendo getting it so much harder than every other company that makes handhelds?
I wasn't going to buy a Switch Lite in the first place, since I already have a Switch and a part of what sold me on it was the hybrid nature of it. I don't game enough in mobile mode to completely go and buy another one.
I've had my Switch for over a year and my joycons work fine. Maybe it's because when I game I use my pro controller more often.
@Jokerwolf it also unacceptable that people still don't know how to use the phrase "let alone" correctly, yet here you are.
@StevenG "Cheap" is debatable.
@daveh30 Sweet dealio Emilio.
It's the first time i've heard of that issue. The analog sticks on EVERY controller ever made can start drifting after some heavy abuse. Has happened to my PS3 dualshock after some flying lesson.
Why people won't send it to warranty or at least do a video showing their joycons misbehaving instead of directly doing a lawsuit is beyond me.
Edit: If i got the drifting issue after i had abused my joycon, i'd just get a replacement analogstcik for like 3€ and repair it in 20mins~
@daveh30 This type of stuff has been going on since forever. I remember hearing people complaining about old Playstation controllers wearing out too soon, all sorts of Nintendo controllers have had complaints from people wearing them out and I am not the least surprised to see people complaining about the same things again today.
It just seems like some people are prone to being very rough with their controllers and they wear them out quickly as a result. I have never really had much issues with controllers consistently wearing out on me, they always seemed to be more isolated cases. Then again I always seem good care of my electronics in comparison to a lot of people. My handhelds always seemed to be a good example of this, I have seen no shortage of handhelds that have gotten all messed up by the way people handled them and despite this my handhelds are usually in great shape because I always kept them in great shape.
So honestly I think this is just like anything else. Some people can wear out a new car really quickly because they aren't careful with it, they don't maintain it the way they should, and they let it get really dirty and messed up, and over time the car just gets worn out. As for others they can have the same car and they always took care of it, maintained it, and kept it clean, so many years down the line it is still in great shape. I think some people just need to learn how to take better care of their things.
@nintendoPLAYROOM $5 each.
@Jokerwolf So you are a thief, that's fine lots of criminals and scumbags out there to keep you company.
@DanTheSausage U must b new here cos it's been discussed plenty of times already, just search it on YouTube and u will get an idea.
@StevenG Just taking things into my own hands at no cost to me, JoyCon are expensive and should work properly.
Sorry Damien, Nintendo can't hear you over the crackle of all the money they're printing!
And neither can I, since I live in some weird alternate reality from the vocal minority where drifting just isn't a thing.
I thought you were first in the queue for the new d-pad?
@JayJ But this specific issue is widespread and every single case can't just b attributed 2 people not taking care of their equipment properly, at the end of the day game consoles and motor vehicles r designed 2 take a certain amount of wear and tear, within reason of course...
@Nekonokatzen Jeez u sound unlucky with your Sony purchases, doesn't seem 2 b slowing u down tho hey...
I wonder if you will be able to pair other controllers like the pro to the switch lite. It wouldn’t be “Junked” if that’s the case. Still not a good situation, but not a total loss.
"Based on the images we've seen so far, the stick design is practically identical to the Joy-Con one"
Unless you have an image from inside - you have not seen anything.
There were zero difference from "the outside" to the updated JoyCon to fix the Disconnect problem we all had with the launch units. Mine looks like every other Switch after it got fixed.
And if never getting fixed - how would it not be "Will not buy any Switch"... Some People have already spent the same amount as a Switch LITE replacing controllers.
@sanderev you have no idea what you’re talking about. I have a ton of drifting issues in both joy sticks. The only reason why it’s on the left one more is because....gasp... that one is used more.
The main problem with the drift is the fact that this was widely reported a month or two after launch and Nintendo's official response was that it was a bad batch of joycons from the factory. 2 and a half years later and brand new joycons are drifting mere hours after taking them out of the box. By now Nintendo should have put this issue soundly to bed, and they haven't done anything. I really hope this class action suit gives them a wake up call.
Can't say i've ever had a problem with joy-con control sticks drifting. I never use the ones on the console anyway. I play mostly at home with my Switch while its docked so i'm 99% of the time using the Pro Controller which is waaaaay more comfortable than the smaller ones ever were.
I haven't had issues with joycons, but that's probably only because I use pro controller 99% of the time. In the past couple weeks my pro controller just inputs down by default at random times. Is that normal after using it for 2 and a half years? I've never had this happen for other types of controllers, even after a decade of use.
I still chuckle when I see folks saying the ol' chestnut "It hasn't happened to me, so it's not real", or the every so lovely "It's not the hardware, it's people". Folks do realize that things can be made in a way that the item integrity is a gamble, right? That's why things like recalls actually exist, because those design, manufacturing, or material flaws can and do exist.
This all reminds me of an issue that I actually went through. The Jeep Cherokee vehicle has a specific motor or specific year models that has an inherent flaw. The 4.0 I6 is a beast of an engine that is considered one of Chrysler's best 4x4 variants. But in 2000, a change in cylinder head casting caused the side effect of a weaker cylinder wall; leading to an oil/coolant mixture, blown head gasket, and catastrophic engine failure. This affects 1999-2004 models and can occur at any stage in the motor's life. Just because it hasn't happened, doesn't mean it never will. It's just a matter of how fast the grains of sand can pass through the hourglass.
Keep feeding that outage culture. It's amusing watching all you crybabies overreact to something so trivial.
@S4ndm4n my 1989 gameboy STILL works fine and that’s been dropped in a bath!
@Keywork there’s no smoke without fire
Seriously? What a terrible piece of journalism!
You would think this was the early 90s and this was written by a SEGA nutter!
As if there will be an issue with the Lite. I have owned 2 switch consoles since launch and never had a problem.
Next.......
@Jokerwolf Yes, taking things that don't belong to you is called theft.
@Keywork I don't know how you call it a myth. It's literally happening to my wife's joy con right now. I am sending it into nintendo because the left joycon joystick won't stop going upward.
It wouldn't be this big if it wasn't happening. Sure it might have not effected you yet. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Also get over yourself, you sound like an entitled child.
The fervor used (among countless other daily outrages) for this issue just goes to show how low internet and social media culture has dragged down our ability to keep perspective and communicate as a civilization.
Do the users that are experiencing joy-con drift deserve an answer or to have their faulty hardware assessed and fixed? Yes.
Does it mean that every single Switch console has joy con issues and every single one ever manufactured henceforth will and anyone who argues otherwise is a Nintendo-worshipping fanboy/girl/shill that hates all consumer protections? No.
35 million consoles have been sold. Even at 350,000 defective joycons, that is 1% of total consoles. Even 1 million defective consoles is 2.8% of the total sold.
Like it or not, that is an acceptable range of defective products across a number of industries.
Does that mean Nintendo should not address the issue or work to get repairs or replacements? No. Good customer service is still important for defective products. If it is actually defective and not the result of poor handling...which, (few seem to want to admit) is real too. We've all had friends come over and pound controllers throughout our life and have watched on in horror at the ferocity with which they handle things. A subset (not ALL) of the issues may be caused by this as well.
It's an issue. But maybe not the epidemic or panic some are making it out to be.
Personally, I've had my Switch from launch and have not experienced any issues. I had to re-calibrate the left con once, and it solved it immediately.
@StevenG It is my right as a consumer to avoid factory level blunders if they are not going to replace mine free of charge, it has been proven already that it is a faulty part they keep using anyhow. We just need to wait for a proper statement.
Definitely not getting one but it's not because of Joy Con drift. I simply don't have a good enough reason to want the Switch Lite when the regular Switch works great as the hybrid device the Nintendo Switch WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE. The Switch was never meant to be a 100% portable or a 100% console system. It was always meant to be hybrid. That said, I'm worried that the new Neon Purple/Neon Orange Joy Con coming in October (that just went on Amazon Canada for pre-order) will also inevitably break. I've only ever had 1 set of Joy Con ever that didn't break on me, and it was a set my hubby got me from an Etsy seller who re-shelled a grey pair of Joy Con with transparent orange shell to make it look like those transparent N64s from back in the day. It's the only pair that I haven't had a single issue with, and they're not even "Nintendo Official" albeit the parts inside are genuine Joy Con parts.
@cb3 had mine. Since launch day and the joy cons are still fine and my pro controller is still fine.
@Jokerwolf You can exercise that right by not purchasing.
Theft is not an alternative.
I wont be buying a Switch Lite because it goes against the very concept of the console, its USP is that it's a hybrid.
how about stop dictating to people what they should and shouldn't do
@Darkyoshi98 Thats great! I'm wondering if it the game a play a lot - Splatoon 2? Forward motion most of the time - for extra long periods of time.
All my controllers have this drift. Only one have responded well to being reset in the controls. The others 3 drift too bad or don't move forward at all. Reseting them has no effect.
@Yorumi So it's outrage you want, just directed at Nintendo?
I think the point is that outrage, given the known scale and proportion, probably shouldnt be directed either way.
If someone came to me and said "we know 1% of (insert product) is defective" should I fly off the handle into a hulk rage? If that is your threshold for outrage, you must be an inconsolably angry person.
Nintendo should look into this and make repairs. Maybe save the outrage for children in cages, or climate change. When it comes to outrage, I have little use for it when it comes to the toy department of life.
@JayJ Riddle me this, then, how come my Vita, bought half a year after launch, has never had any analog stick problems, while four of my five joycons have? I didn't pamper it, compared to it, I take care of my Switch and the joycons like a baby. I used the Vita inside, outside, dropped it a few times, button mashed in Freedom Wars when cutting off abductor limbs so hard I eventually physically broke the circuit ribbon reading button presses for circle and triangle, yet, all this time, the analog sticks never even once registered an input I didn't want them to?
Meanwhile, I sent four joycons in for repairs, two got replaced sticks, two were diagnosed with 'No problem detected'. Of course I plugged in those latter two and, after a few minutes of playing, they started drifting again. I guess they didn't bother to check them for a few minutes unless they were drifting hard from the get go, like the first two.
Oh, also, one of the two with replaced sticks started drifting two weeks after being returned to me. Meanwhile, my Vita's sticks still refuse to register even a single phantom input.
Cya
Raziel-chan
@doll What makes you think most kids toys don't break easily? Landfills are full of kids toys. So are the oceans probably. And not every parent buying their kid a Switch Lite is going to be following Nintendo news on the internet.
@whereswarren Table Top mode is my least used mode, but then the fact there are options is part of the charm of the system.
Honestly, my eyes are getting too old to look at a screen that small from that far away. I had to get glasses just to use handheld mode, and most of the time I am wishing for a Gameboy style magnifier for the console.
I guess I will be the first in line to purchase the Switch XL with Pro Controller joy-cons on the side.
@StevenG I do what I want, not everything is black and white son.
@MrHaggi The last teardown of the Joycons and pricing of components suggests that Nintendo is losing money with each Joycon set sold.
@Yorumi I am going with the numbers that are known and have been reported thus far (that's called using the evidence at hand to form an opinion). So let me guess, you (and only you) DO know the exact widespread number, and it falls somewhere in the 100% range of all systems, right?
I wasn't shifting an argument, instead commenting on your bloodlust for outrage and accusations of corporate-worship for anyone who dared suggest the issue is not of the highest maximum importance.
I dont claim people should not post their opinions on the issue, but I am within my right to say the reactions to this, and the need for outrage, does fall outside of my perception of what productive and useful discourse entails. It's not virtue-signaling to call that out. If you want to die on a hill and make yourself out to be a champion of civil and consumer-rights for rousing people to be mad at a corporation; that is your business.
In my posts, I have clearly said Nintendo should fix the issue. Youre simply upset that I call out the inane and ridiculous reactions. It is possible in this world to post comments on a Nintendo site (and other forums) and not have it continuously devolve into the hyperbolic outrage nonsense. But maybe that is a standard too far for some...
I'd expect the lite to release with more of a 3ds stick instead of a joycon stick.
It's only a matter of time before the Joy-Con Drift Deniers experience Joy-Con drift and that is very amusing to me. It has been interesting to see people denying this problem, as if it does not even exist. Nintendo acknowledges the problem on the front page of their Support page.
@PCkid Except the Lite is $100 cheaper. That’s the trade-off. You pay less money and get less features. It only makes sense. People who want a version that can be docked and play on the television can just buy the original Switch. I don’t see why it’s so hard to understand. No one is forcing you to buy a Lite.
While I see a definite market for the Lite, I've had enough issues with either breaking Joy-Cons, having issues with them, or just overall feeling that the Switch is 5x more fragile than say a 3DS where I'm passing on it for now. I'd love to have a proper Only-On-The-Go Switch as I'm scared to death of traveling with mine very much, but the Lite isn't it. If Nintendo can bring out a Switch Lite+ sometime down the road, I might change my mind. I would love a 2DS-XL-like Switch with a built-in cover. It's never even occurred to me that my 2DS XL or 3DS XL might eventually have faulty controllers. All these years later my original launch DS still works flawlessly. The Joy-Cons just aren't built to last.
@sanderev you seem confused.
@Yorumi What on earth is this delusional rubbish you just typed? You did nothing but insult me in your previous post, then whinge and moan as a victim of libel and bad behavior?
It is not even worth further comment. Everyone can clearly see the forum and make up their own minds.
I wouldn't buy one anyway, the price isn't low enough to match everything that was cut from it.
But, the potential Joycon issue certainly doesn't help it.
Unfortunately, there will be many a casual person who knows nothing of Joycon drift that might get stuck with a Lite with this issue and that will be their Nintendo experience.
Me and my son are saving up for his. If he does some of the hard work, he'll have one saved up as a reward combined with his allowances.
This again. I'll say this there are cases where Joy-Con is defective from everyday usage but if user 'abused" or in cases where Switch units where dropped and cracked of which I've seen online was very suspicious those wouldn't qualify for fixes or replacements. So unless one can document "document" the issue should this go through you won't be able to just say my Joy-Con has issue or if they permit but said we will keep logs of the repairs history and if it happens too much then something else is going on.
I have the drift, but that’s not why I won’t get the Lite. Mostly because I like to play the Switch docked at times. Can’t do that with the Lite.
@Damo interesting article, I have the drift issue however when I play in portable mode, the issue disappears totally. Because of this im playing my switch in portable mode only.
It will be interesting to know if someone else is having a similar case.
Considering the Switch Lite is not simply 2 joy cons jammed in there, but clearly was redesigned to be a unit of it's own, I'm not sure the logic checks out. Of all the Nintendo controllers released, how many times has drift been a problem? For one set. To get upset that you think the Switch Lite's controllers will replicate the Joy Con's drift problems would be like assuming that Switch Pro controllers are about to get the drift problem too. There is no good reason to think that, but hey, they're both controllers made by the same company, so surely they must have the same issues.
@Varazadi lol, I'm sure a handful of people have had drift occur on those controllers, just as I'm sure PS2, PS3, PS4, 360, Xbone, etc. controllers have had their share of controllers with drift issues as well. But they were never real global issues that routinely happen from one controller to the next. No one looks back at the Gamecube controller and thinks, oh man they really messed up with the drift on those controllers. They simply aren't the same, so don't go trying to spew that nonsense at me.
@AJ1 I've never experienced any drift in handheld mode. I had a drifting issue playing wirelessly with the first set I got at launch, but it just stopped after a while. I had to get a new set because I broke one of my original joycon and I haven't had any issues since.
So is this drifting issue at all related to the desync issue? I haven't experienced that for a long time either, just curious.
Joy con drift wont be an issue with switch lite since they are attached to the console at all times.
Do we even know if the same joycon is gonna be used? I guess it doesn't matter when you're being hysterical.
@saintayu They clearly are not the same joy-cons, given the d-pad, the lack of rumble, the lack of the IR camera, and the shorter vertical design, it is very clear that it's not a simple 1:1 implementation of the Switch's Joy-cons into the Switch Lite.
I stopped getting anything handheld from Nintendo where the controller is the console awhile ago. I got a brand-new "new 3ds" a few years back and the A button stopped working after a week. I called support and the man insisted it was my doing due to dust and dirt getting into the system. After proving I just bought it I sent it off to get fixed. Now this was the hyrule edition so it had a shiny gold finish. Got it back with scratches all on the top and back plate. The A button worked for 30 mins on mario kart 7....
I simply cannot give up the option to play on the TV if I so choose. That, and the fact that I would be so angry if the joy con drift started happening on my non detachable ones. The whole idea of having an option to switching out to joy cons that aren't drifting is one of the main reasons I don't get overwhelmed with frustration over the glaring hardware issue. I am not a gambling man with my systems. Which is a shame, considering this is Nintendo we are talking about. The Nintendo difference used to be something worth bragging about, in terms of consoles. Their games are still awesome, their controllers need some solid work.
@datamonkey
Many materials will smoke before reaching their ignition temperature. If oxygen is low or absent, fuels will smoke heavily without igniting.
Can't believe there's people defending these bad business practices from Nintendo. Yikes.
Of course its highly likely they could have reengineered the sticks on the lite to sort out the drift issue
It's not a clamshell so those joysticks arent going to hold up in your pocket. Which is another reason this isn't really a portable. It's a Stuck not a Switch. I'm sticking with my 3ds and 2ds. They shouldve just made the Lite BIGGER like a tablet.
Me buying one during launch window means I don't need a lesser one.
@Chunkboi79
Everyone wants to be part of the meme these days. Individuality died when the internet was born. I feel sorry for all you pussified kids that will never have your own identity.
@Jokerwolf
Good plan except....you could finish up with even worse ones 😉
I haven’t bought any Joycon because I’ve been waiting for them to fix the drift issue.
My 2ds had a drift issue that was fixed when Nintendo told me to remove the screen protector.
@electrolite77 It could be a never ending can cycle.
Meh, sounds like the same problem gamers have had since analog sticks were a thing. N64, PS1, Dreamcast, Xbox...
I've bought three PS4 controllers in total, the first one had a common analog stick problem where the rubber coating would start to loosen and stretch.
Unrealistic expectations folks.
@StevenG Spot on. Nintendo has succeeded in being a whipping post for the entitled.
@WoolooSweater Wait, are you saying you made a Mario Maker level about Joycon drift? ... I want to play this (poorly, because of the drift on my left Joycon)
@duffmmann If they’re being supplied those sticks by the same company it’s at least a red flag
@SakurabaNeku No! We have (had) XB360, PS4, XBox One X, 2DS, 3DS, N3DS, Wii, WiiU, PSVITA with ton of controllers and believe it or not. Never had any issues!
We have two Switch consoles and have had drift issues on 3 Joy-Con’s so far!
So this a real problem and not some rare occurence.
@Rounobi Sony controllers break even easier than Joycons, in my experience, and in different parts of the unit
@Antraxx777 Sure, here’s the course ID: 62H-GN3-L3G
Might encounter some problems since it’s centered around seesaws. Like I said, I don’t have Joy-Con drift myself and haven’t played it with a faulty Joy-Con yet.
I've had to look up what joystick drift is. Have owned consoles with sticks back since the N64, and boy were some of those controllers hammered - not something I've ever experienced. None of the friends I played with on any of the consoles have ever mentioned it. Unlike say, red rings of death or having to turn your ps1 upside down etc.
Have I and the people around me over the past 20+ years of my gaming life just been really fortunate?
@Jeronan Guys, I never said it wasn't a real problem. My own left Joy-Con is drifting. I just said that in the past some people had problems with their consoles, and that never stop them from buying. This is the same case, we have this drifting problem, IS REAL, but that won't stop people from buying if they have a way to fix it (sending to Nintendo or fixing themselves).
It's better to wait until after launch anyways. Who knows what problems it could have? Not saying it will have problems, but the early adopters get to be the guinea pigs.
I haven't had a problem with my Joy-Con, but it is a real problem that hopefully gets resolved. A lot of people are saying the same thing so it's not nothing.
I get the vibe that Nintendo made some changes in the Switch Lite Analog Sticks.
I'm holding out for the pro so I can give my kids the og one.
This past year I had to get my left joy con replaced by Nintendo who thankfully did it free of charge. Typically Nintendo products are built like tanks so this is the first time I've ever had a problem with one. The replacement stick does drift a little from time to time but not enough to impact gameplay yet. All that said, I also had to get a new PS4 controller because my sticks on that bit the dust. However, that controller was 3 or 4 years old while the joy con was less than a year. It's a real problem and I'm unsure why they haven't redesigned the thing at this point.
On the few occasions I've had to send my handhelds in for repair, Nintendo has always been super helpful, efficient and accommodating. Always.
Not buying one. Even if I did, the joycon issue wouldn't be a concern. It's a new product line and doesn't have all the fancy tech that's like part of the trouble.
Having 2 switch units in my household makes the proposition of buying a Switch Lite...excessive? In any case, all points made in the article were also my concerns...I might consider purchasing one if the issue is fixed...I mean the Lite certainly becomes more appealing knowing that the analog stick won't be a prob.
the only saving grace this thing has is it POSSIBLY not having drift, if the switch lite and joycons are built differently enough for it to not be an issue
Exact reason I won't buy a Switch Lite at first.... despite being very interested.
First generation hardware typically has flaws.
@Damo Is this a UK/US thing? What I mean by that is that in Australia, everything yas at least a standard 1 year warranty for all products have so if you take back your Switch for something defective they have to either repair or replace (I believe replace within a certain period may be enforced also) and you can demand a refund if the defect is significant anyway.
I thought the whole purpose of this warranty is to protect consumers and have them avoid this ’worry’ when buying new products?
@PCkid
I never used the built-in kickstand as it is too flimsy and fragile; yet I played tabletop mode, oh the wizardry of just laying the Switch against anything to keep it standing..
This is exactly why i would also ignore switch lite. Especially since nintendo treats the drift issue as if its some isolated case that doesnt really normally happen, id assume they didnt make any adjustments to the analogs to prevent drifting from happening on the switch lite. So RIP switch lite. Dead even before arrival.
@gamekill
Yeah BUT you play with the Joycons in your hands... Do not try this with the Lite LOL !
@Keywork consider yourself reported. Since you're an obvious troll, there's no need for that here lol
The Class Action Lawsuit was purposely filed after Nintendo announced the Switch Lite. The timing is strategic, it will forced Nintendo into immediate action or else no one will buy the new device.
Im doing another switch giveaway but this time for a switch lite
This is good news for me. I will be able to find dirt cheap 'broken' Switch Lite's after about a year and fix it for next to nothing. Have fun selling your $200 console on craigslist for $20 when a simple $10 part would fix your issue.
Just thank Iwata the joysticks aren't soldered on to the board like Sony likes to do.
@whereswarren well I agree, but if I pay someone for something (Nintendo here) I will complain to them and not the companies they subcontracted.
How is the author so sure that the Joycon drift will affect Switch Lite????
Now, before you state the obvious, the authors opinion is based on what's going on with Joycons, and equating that with the controls on the Switch Lite, which, for all intents and purposes, are not Joycons.
I feel like the authors logic wasn't well thought out.
@JuiceMan_V he just wanted to create a click generator. It worked. Joy cons are topical, much the same as cracks in the Switch were - ahh I remember Crackgate like it was yesterday...what a weekend that was.
I hope Nintendo use better joycons in the current switch revision (the one coming out mid August) and better analogue sticks in the switch lite. Because if they don't do both, each console will have a bad launch and that will not be good for consumer trust in nintendo. Nintendo are on the right track with switch at the moment and I hope Nintendo keep applying this logic to their switch related decisions.
The vocal minority trying to scare off the majority over a very rare issue.
Only a fool would put purchasing this off.
Only a fool would be sucked in by the screams of the vocal minority.
@JuiceMan_V
It’s just a click bait article by someone from the vocal minority who are trying to make an issue out of something that is a relatively rare occurrence.
NintendoLife have better journalistic standards . . .
or so I thought. Articles like this make me think otherwise.
@StevenG Please enlighten us?
@8bitdaysaweek
The issue is isolated cases that rarely happen. Nintendo is correct in their assessment of the situation.
The timing was strategic. Proving the lawsuit is all about $$ and not about getting the relatively rare issue fixed.
@DanEddy91 To what?
If you mean replacement, the sticks are on amazon for $5 each and dead easy to replace. Open the controller remove and replace.
@Jokerwolf "I do what I want" is the common refrain of children and criminals.
There are shades of grey in many things, what you are discussing is not one of them. You are committing fraud at best and theft at worst.
I wouldn't do that over $5 but clearly you will.
@StevenG Ya, and you seem to be bothered by it, not sure why lol. It effects you in no way. Go back the the herd sheepy.
@StevenG Thanks, I didn't know that. £8.69 on prime and comes with tools to fit. Hoping it's as simple as you say.
However I agree with those saying it is not something we should have to do. Nintendo need to fix the problem long term, simple as that.
@the8thark Wow you're ignorant. It is clearly an extremely common issue. Do you just think it's rare because it hasn't happened to you?
@Jokerwolf Because it impacts everyone. It increases the prices of goods.
There it is you proved yourself to be an uncreative moron. No one who uses that term seriously is a person anyone should respect.
@DanEddy91 I agree, but I don't think it will be simple. The stick is so shallow that there aren't a lot of other options. A custom part would be too expensive.
I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying the Pro controller sticks are more robust. Pro controller, X1 (especially Elite with the metal sticks at a whopping $250), Dual Shock 4, even the GamePad and X360 controllers all have the failing potentiometer/drift issues as well. The problem isn't specific to Joycon, it's an epidemic with the 2-axis pots used in game controllers.
@StevenG To each their own, you do you boo.
Could go back to D-pad. Could also go back to Wii joystick. Or the 3DS style thingy. Shouldn't use graphite.
@SakurabaNeku Nope. My GBA is still going strong in the button department and its over 10 years old. Aside from a slightly sunk button, my daughter's DSi works quite well.
@Rhaoulos If not for the issues, I'd imagine its for the same reason people would want any combo of Console and Handheld, mostly for the exclusives. Switch Lite will have its own set of exclusives sooner or later.
I wonder if a more accurate name for the Switch Lite would be Switch Less because it doesn't switch and you get less functionality than with the standard Switch.
@Keywork thanks for the science lesson but I assume you got my point?
No SWITCHing to tv mode is a deal breaker.
WD Contact Cleaner will fix the drift
@Tempestryke The 2DS didn't get any exclusive. Why would Nintendo decide to shoot itself in the foot by fragmenting its own line of hybrid consoles? The Switch Lite is just a low cost Switch, nothing more.
@Rhaoulos Meant the 3DS. I have a 2DS, so I've become used to saying that when talking about its games. Yes the 3DS family DID get exclusive games, as all handhelds do. And what is it with Switch owners acting like handhelds kicked their puppy and stole their spouse? You people endlessly whining about them is nonsensical.
@Chunkboi79
Only cowards report other users. Grow up and grow a pair.
@datamonkey
I refuted your point actually.
@Keywork bro I'm just gonna keep reporting you till you get banned. Git recked
@Keywork also I am very grown up which is why I don't troll people over a common issue with Nintendo's faulty technology. I don't have to go on internet forums to prove my manhood, you out here looking like a clown lawlz
@Keywork ok so bad choice of words. Let me re-word.
There is a very high percentage of switch users reporting drifting issues, which likely signals a hardware issue rather than it being a user issue. Typical electronic failure rate of 3%-5% is actually looking like 25%+. The fact that Nintendo have now acknowledged the issue and are rolling out free repairs also seems to suggest people are not complaining for no reason or just “not looking after their belongings” as many have suggested.
Is that better or are you going to pick holes in that too? (If so may I suggest you go and get a life first?)
@Tempestryke Before using the "whining" excuse to avoid answering a comment you didn't understand, try to think about it for a second.
You are comparing the Switch lite to the 3DS, which is wrong. The Switch Lite is a low cost Switch, the same way the 2DS was a low cost 3DS and the New 2DS XL was a low cost New 3DS XL. Nintendo managed to merge portable and home console in a single market with the Switch, a hybrid console, and the Switch Lite, a console with exactly the same specs, and compatibility as the original Switch in portable mode (not tabletop). So I am asking again: why would they fragment their own market with exclusives on 2 variants of the same console? It is as if Sony decided to make PS4 Non-Pro exclusive games, it wouldn't make any sense.
@Keywork Actually users report comments if they think another user is going against the site rules (i.e. trolling)
@Chunkboi79
Wouldn't be the first time I was banned. And certainly won't be the last as long insecure babies like you are around.
@datamonkey
Source for your "data"? Or are you just making it up as you go? Why not leave the analytics to the grown ups, kid. You look like a fool right now.
@Matthew010
Translation: if their ovaries get agitated they resort to reporting so they can continue to live in their safe bubble on the internet. Gotcha.
@Keywork very mature of you, again like I said. I'm confident in myself, you think some immature, self indulgent child is going to try to challenge me? You're worth less than the dirt on my shoes, little troll. Bruh the best thing you can come back at me is kid! Don't make me laugh 😂
@Keywork btw you're getting all worked up over joycon drift, who's the real adult here?
@Keywork here you go - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/07/poll_have_your_joy-con_been_drifting
No doubt you are going to say that isn’t relevant information for some reason? The sample size is too small or irrelevant or something?
The fact that nearly 75% of users have recorded an issue is rather high wouldn’t you agree? Much higher than the 25% I originally stated and much higher than the typical 2-3% expected failure rate. Even if the data is inaccurate by 50% it’s still 19 times higher than expected. Would you not say that’s telling?
Also do you think lawyers are un-educated and stupid? You think they just make cases up they can’t win for the fun of it or do you think they have good grounds to win? I’m guessing it’s always the latter right? https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/07/us_law_firm_opens_switch_joy-con_drift_class_action_investigation
I would guess I’m older than you so please don’t patronise me by calling me a kid. Why do you feel you have to resort to insults? Does it make you feel good, or superior as you are trying to portray yourself? Also why exactly have I made myself look like a fool? Is it because I’m talking to you? Maybe you should take a look in the mirror before calling others names.
@Chunkboi79
And yet you still respond to every comment I make. I own you.
@Chunkboi79
And you're getting all worked up over a stranger's comments.
@Keywork I'm responding because I'm quite enjoying this, watching a little person get worked up over a video game console. You're a child bro, it's hilarious how petty of a human being you are. Bruh Nintendo's got you by their balls if you're gonna go to the grave defending the joycons. Dude get a life! I actually feel quite sorry for you. It must be hard having such a pathetic existence where you get your rise out of internet forums. Don't make me laugh lol
I’ve never experienced this problem, but I do get your drift. Wait…let me rephrase that!
@Chunkboi79
It's so easy getting under your skin. How does it feel getting worked up by a complete stranger on the internet?
@Keywork you're not bugging me at all, it's actually been pretty fun. Later!
@Keywork your tolling isn’t affecting me. You’re the fool.
Go get a life mate...
@Chunkboi79
I agree. Trolling the idiots is always fun for me. Especially when they keep insisting they aren't upset about it.
@datamonkey
If it wasn't affecting you, then why mention it specifically? You just made yourself look even more foolish.
@Keywork cool story bro
@Chunkboi79
Very cool story.
Crap, I already preordered the switch lite and there is no coming back for me. Goddammit.
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