US Law Firm Opens "Switch Joy-Con Drift" Class Action Investigation

happens so much that I had to send my red joycon in for repairs 3 times and my blue 1 once and then my warranty expired.

Oh I have it (left)... Same one that had the launch disconnect problem (sent in to have fixed).

Just waiting for my HORI Split Pad Pro (Daemon Edition) to get rid of them once and for all.

My Joy-Con that came with the Switch fell victim to the dreaded drift! I tried fixing it myself using guides to no avail, unfortunately. Ended up buying a new pair. I kept thinking to myself, "This is the first time I have to replace faulty Nintendo hardware." For $80, too! Get out of here with that nonsense! That's nearly halfway to buying the Switch Lite!

Mine started drifting to the left. I can't remember if this was consistent throughout the other users' complaints.

I love Nintendo. Always have, always will. But the JoyCon build quality is nothing short of unacceptable.

I have original controllers for all Nintendo consoles dating back to the N64. Out of all of them, the Joycon is the only one to have any significant issues - and that's after owning it for less than a year.

Legal action may be a bit dramatic, but Nintendo absolutely needs to change this situation, especially for the Switch Lite. With that console, if the joystick goes out, the entire console is out of commission. That's simply not right.

GOOD. honestly, GOOD.
I just want to see Nintendo ACKNOWLEDGE this.

(and I don't care if John Doe in the comments hasn't had a problem. good for you if your Joy Con still work. thousands of people still have Joy Con issues.)

Yeah, I just reminded them about the Pro Controller D-Pad, too.

Good it really amazes me that Nintendo hasn't fixed this yet.

The joystick drifting issue started way back during the GameCube days when the drifting control glitch tends to happen. I'm amaze it took this long until people finally do something about it.

I love Nintendo, but with so many people having issues this was bound to happen, especially with no solution offered. I actually had a drift on my 3DS that had to be fixed a few years ago.

I play docked with a pro controller. I'm immune to the drift.

@retro_player_22 Yeah, but like the N64 controller, that was due to wear and tear. And use. There's hardly any preventing that.
These Joy-Cons were faulty on day one.

So out of all the faulty horrible controllers to file a suit over...they choose this? I know that they have a drifting issue, but this is worded as if drifting is exclusive to joycons, and it is used to interfere on purpose?

I don't experience drift, but the SL/SR buttons on my right Joy Con stopped working, making it impossible to play with it on its side. I don't think I did anything on my part to cause this. Would I be entitled to the same compensation, I wonder, if this investigation goes anywhere?

@ilikeike

My feelings exactly.

@KingBowser86 It ain't wear and tear if the new controllers also had that same issue. Even the new Smash Ultimate GameCube controller had that same drifting control issue. It's not wear and tear, it's a flaw design that Ninty needs to figure out and fix.

@retro_player_22

Yep, my Pro Controller has also had problems. I used to trust Nintendo controllers.

I love Nintendo. But this Joy-Con drifting problem seriously needs to be fixed. 2 pairs of Joy-Cons cost $80. I don’t want to purchase $80 worth of Joy-Cons if they are gonna have the drifting problem again. And people have sent their Joy-Cons to repair, and are experiencing the same problem with the repair. Nintendo is a very smart company, but they need to fix this issue legal action or not. Also I had a drift problem on my Wii remote where it just kept going up and down on the main menu on some on my Wii games with the D Pad. Is this normal?

@Tyranexx

Had my right Joy-Con stick go out, made shooters extremely hard to play

I don't understand, the Wii U gamepad's joysticks are just like the joycon's joysticks, so why has Nintendo downgraded the quality? Is it to save money or is it due to changes with their manufacturer?

I’m on my third left joycom and it’s always the analog stick and both times getting stuck in the up direction

One of my JoyCon fell victim to drift, but it appears to have been fixed after I used compressed air to blow it out. I had two pro controllers develop drift on me, too, and I had to take them apart and clean them before they started working properly again. I hope this lawsuit actually gains some steam and Nintendo is forced to address this issue.

Joy con drifts suck. For those who have this issue like me, I feel ya.

2yrs in and I am on my second set and they also showing drifting a few months ago.
I refuse to buy a third one until they fixed the design flaw.
This is by far the weakest and fragile game con. from Nintendo.

@Chibi_Manny The WiiU sticks aren’t like joycon sticks any more than an apple is like an orange.

At this point Nintendo needs to acknowledge it is an issue. Maybe pull a Microsoft move and extend the warranty period out, just for joycons. This is another reason I won’t pull the trigger on a Lite as a second unit.

Glad to hear this. I've had 3 controllers go bad without ever being dropped or any mistreatment. I'll be filling out the form.

Not just my original JoyCon, my Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Pro Controller has an issue as well. I'll be keeping an eye open on this one.

I bought 3 pairs of Joy Con and the 3 have this defect, two of them I cant play anymore. And I certainly wont buy a Nintendo Lite for this reason.

please anything to get nintendo to acknowledged this. joycons are pretty nifty controllers and id love to get more colors, but i want them to WORK

I’ve only had this problem once and I fixed it be de- and then re-synching my controllers, and only with one of my 4 pairs of Joy-Con. And of all the other people I know with Switches, I’m the only one to have this problem.

I’m genuinely curious, is it really as widespread as the Internet wants me to believe? Or is this just the vocal minority? I’m thinking the latter.

I honestly believe that Nintendo has no fix for this. That’s why they didn’t knowledge it even though so many people have this issue.

My left JoyCon started experiencing drifting issues several months ago. It isn't unusable but it is annoying as hell.

Litigation may be a bit...extreme, but I doubt a company like Nintendo wants to be involved in any litigation whatsoever so I hope they address the issue.

Well, well, well...this will be interesting.

Have had this problem since October 2018, even though my year warranty expired a few months before this happened (August 29, 2018 to be exact). Let's hope something comes out of this. I would gladly demand cheaper Joy-Cons to be released!

@Chibi_Manny actually no. I've had to take apart my Wii u gamepad a few times to replace the joysticks because after 3 years they finally started wearing out and were filthy. 3 years. The build quality and size of components are night and day between joycons and the Wii u gamepad. I've gone through 3 sets. All it took was 6 months of continuous use before the drifting started. I no longer own my launch day joy cons. I now have to use the pro controller for any serious gaming.

Lol I just posted that I hoped this wouldn’t happen. It sucks but making a lawyer some extra cash in hopes of a 2 dollar check is a waste of time. Class actions only make companies more restrictive and less innovative the next time around. Stuff breaks. Fix it, Send it in or buy a new one.

(Before someone fills my inbox with complaints/attacks which I will ignore, I am on my third pair and will fix them myself. )

Can they start one for the Pro Controller D-Pad, too? I can't play Tetris 99 on either controller (crappy d-pad and joy-con drift). I sent in the Pro Controller for 2 replacements and the issue persisted. Hope some action is taken because this is an issue that Nintendo needs to address.

Not surprised to see this happen. It's an issue they have not been able to fix for nearly two years. They rarely even acknowledge it.

My first pair of Joycons from launch had that problem. Well the left Joycon had that problem. Joycons purchased over the past year haven't been a problem yet. With that being said, I began playing docked mostly because of this issue. This is 100% on Nintendo to fix. For a company obsessed with quality control, this one will haunt them.

@Ryu_Niiyama I may find myself a massive nintendo fanboy, but even I'm not this delusional.

On a different note, I have 6 pairs of joycons they can use as proof. The right joycons are just as bad as the left. Hoping this makes them change this. And they've lost a class action before, look at mario party 1.

This is the first Nintendo system I've had that the controllers actually gave me problems. I still have 30+ year old NES controllers that work perfectly. It's probably why I've bought more controllers for the Switch than any other game system.

First, I bought a second pair of joycon, because I noticed that just a few months of playing BoTW left discoloration in the plastic shell from the oils in my hands. I made sure to put silicone covers over my second pair.

Then I bought a pro controller. The dpad was garbage. That's so strange coming from the company that invented the dpad.

I bought both a Power A and 8bitdo SN30 next. There was nothing really wrong with the Power A, but it felt cheap. The SN30 was great for certain retro games, but was limited.

I started building quite the collection of arcade titles. My switch was becoming the portable arcade of my childhood dreams. I wanted a controller that would give those games more authenticity, so I picked up the Hori fight stick. What a great controller! Perfect for Neo Geo and other arcade classics. It wasn't exactly portable though.

I then bought a Hori Pokken controller. This was the perfect controller for just about anything 2D. It's comfortable, has a fantastic dpad, has all the buttons represented, and feels great to hold. It's also cheap. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes retro/2D/fighting games.

I was still looking for that perfect, works for everything controller, so I decided to get and 8bitdo SN30 pro. What could go wrong? It's an SNES controller with all the modern additions. This one was a huge disappointment. The dpad really sucked. Super inaccurate!

This was about the time where I started having drifting problems with my joycon. I wanted a dpad for portable play, so I bought a Hori dpad joycon. Another great controller from Hori. The dpad feels and works great, and it looks good. I only wish they made a wireless version.

Before I figured out how to fix the drift in my joycon, I went ahead and bought a neon yellow pair. They look great and the plastic doesn't discolor like the grey ones. I luckily haven't had any problems with this pair. I bought another Hori dpad joycon (yellow Pikachu) to match.

I also bought other 8bitdo controllers. I bought the wireless joystick and replaced the stick and buttons with real arcade parts. That was a fun project. I got a Sega Genesis style six button controller for the Genesis collection and M2 Sega games.

The funny thing is, I really love the joycon. They're so versatile and I find them comfortable. I also like using the same exact controllers in portable and TV play. It's really too bad they have so many problems. Hopefully, Nintendo addresses all the problems, as I could see the next model switch using the same controllers. At least I hope so after my considerable investment.

The moral of the story is Hori is great. I think I have a real addiction to buying Switch controllers. I've got a pre-order on the SN30 pro +. I've got my fingers crossed that they've worked out the dpad issues.

My left joy-con experiences it from time to time, and it's not dirt. I solve it by recalibrating the stick, but it's annoying to be forced to do it so often.

Both of my right joy con have the drifting issue as well as the left analog stick on my first party pro controller. So yeah, it sucks

@HexagonSun The only non Nintendo switch controller that I have an issue with is my Wii U gamepad. But my Wii U gamepad didn't start acting up until after 4.5 years of owning it, while my first right joy con started acting up after 5-6 months of ownership.

My PS4 Dualshock had right joystick drifting .... and I bought the damn thing in December .... have experienced the Joy-con drift too.

Is it seriously THAT prevalent of an issue? I have 4 sets of Joycons and haven't had the issue. But maybe that's why, as they all get less use.

@TheAwesomeBowser I couldn't resist bringing out Phoenix for something like this. Wonderful Simpsons reference.

Only for US citizens?

I pop in from time to time.

About time.... Before someone else wallet bleeds for expensive joy-cons brought due to unknown drifting origin.

Since production moved to China build quality has gone way down hill. Remember when 1st party controllers were built to last and take a beating? Even wireless controllers lasted because they took disposable batteries. Now the whole controller is disposable.

I no longer use 2 of my left joycons due to this issue. One takes 1-2 secs to register movements while the other goes all the way left every 30 secs or so. On joycon pair 3 now.

All of my joycon have developed drifting issues. Decided not to buy anymore until they do a hardware fix.

Yes sadly I have experianced this. My left joycon kept drifting and I tried just about every solution I could find to fix it untill I eventualy gave up and bought a new set.
I hope it does not happen again.

I'm still using the joy-cons that came with my switch on launch day and they've given me no trouble.

However, I bought a back-up pair to use instead of the ones that came with my switch, and the right joy-con from that pair drifts sharply down, making playing pretty much any game where you have to aim impossible(DooM, Ziggurat, Red Faction Guerrilla, etc). I'd say this is definitely an issue.

Good. Hopefully this pressures Nintendo to fix this issue, and pays some of those people back, that have had to replace/repair many sets. On my third set personally.

This is a real problem!

I keep my controllers in perfect condition and still use my original Wavebirds.

The 3 left launch day joy cons I have all exhibit this issue. The two I bought since are fine.

I've always said Nintendo hardware is much better than of the shelf brands.
Not this time! I've been calling these things junk since a few months after they came out (check my posts!)

I had to fix my left analogic joycon. Why? Because it fall in the ground and after it, the problem beggined. I bet all people with the same problem, it happened, but few will be honests about it.
What happens is which the joycons are really tiny and economic to allow came two with the console.
Gamecube controls and others was robust to be able suport impact but was a lot bigger. The joycon was made tiny to allow a good portability. Want a controler more resistant? Buy a pro controler.

@EchoNemesis I know this is super off-topic, but from what anime is your avatar? The art style reminds me of Tenchi Muyo, and I was just wondering. Thanks in advance! (Also, in the interest of relevance, I hafta google what this whole "drift" thing is all about - I've only ever used my switch in either handheld or docked with the Pro Controller and so I'm not sure what it all means.)

@PhilKenSebben Harvey Birdman is (in my experience) a very underappreciated work. Good on you, Internet Sir.

Nintendo don't just need to acknowledge this is a problem, they need to fix it, and they need to compensate anyone who is out of pocket for their poor quality/design fault. And they need to be punished to ensure it doesn't happen in the future.

I say this as a massive Nintendo fan, and as someone who hasn't had any drift issues. But corporations need to be held responsible for their mis-actions.

It’s not just the joy-con. I’ve experienced it with a pro controller as well.

Drifting can happen on any controller.

I have had no drift problems with mine I got on day 1. Is this an issue with switches bought recently (past year or so)?

My left joy con drifts extremely to the left. It began happening about a month after my warranty expired so I just didn't mess with it and bought a procontroller

Had to send in my (launch system) L-Joycon for repair twice and it was handled within warranty by Nintendo (in the Netherlands).

First time was for the sync issue which was acknowledged by Nintendo. Unfortunately within approx. 1 year after this repair the stick started drifting upwards and it only got worse as time passed. It got to the point where I couldn't play games with it anymore. Called Nintendo, they told me to send it in and they replaced the stick.

I never had to rely on warranty or repairs for any of my consoles and I've been gaming since the NES came out. The N64 sticks were bad (still working though) but only long after the GCN came out did I buy some replacement sticks for the N64 controllers because I wanted them in good condition. I'm also relatively careful with my electronics and keep everything in good condition and in a clean environment.

I definitely think there is a design flaw of the sticks or joycons that is causing drifiting issues. I hope Nintendo will be forced to acknowledge the issue and send out replacement Joycons for people with the issue. It sucks for a company and costs a lot of money but they should have selected better quality parts if it really is the stick as many suspect.

Finaly Nintendo needs to confirm this.
All the years I have Nintendo consoles, and controllers never had issues.

Both of my joycons are drifting, have been for months now.

@Agramonte I'm so glad you mentioned that, as that controller is the exact thing I've been looking for for ages. I hate the current Joy Cons for 2D games (because of the lack of an actual D-pad), and for 3D games that use the second analog stick a lot, as it's in such an uncomfortable position. This solves both problems, and on top of that also has bigger buttons and bigger real estate, so it seems much more ergonomic all around. Thanks so much for the heads up!

It is so strange that a PS Vita (Fat model) has same small joysticks didn't have the issue but the Switch has.

After seeing a video about joy-con analogs that Spawn Wave made I facepalmed but was also very angry, in the end Nintendo used the wrong (cheap) materials in the analog of the joy-con that make it wear off anyhow and quickly, in other words every joy-con analog will someday end up with drift because of that.

And now with the Switch Lite and the lack of replacable joy-cons that could become a huge issue and it's main flaw.

I for one am shocked that such a critical error could happen with all the assumed quality control. It’s unfortunate. Hopefully the newer joycons have been revised.

Where do I sing or how can I fill the form.
Please!

My original joy cons and my pro controller suffer from drift. I would love to get some money back from Nintendo for this.

I can’t imagine how anyone could want the switch lite and not be worried that once the joy cons start drifting that they have to buy a brand new system

I need to watch a video on this I have no idea what you all are talking about.

My right JoyCon drifts, why Nintendo didn’t stick with the Circle Pad’s is a mystery.

We have a stick that I fixed for a few months but it came back.

I can only guess it's the build quality of the sticks themselves. I don't understand those that say it is dust though as they have dust covers?

Like some users mentioned above, desynching and recalibrating over and over after also doing the usual is what helped me the first time.

I'm wondering if it's a mix of quality and software?

@MH4 EVERYONE I've talked to with a switch, minus one, has experienced drift.

i have the launch model and i have not exerince this drifting issue, maybe im not playing hardcore on my joycons or not put in too many hours for it to trigger idk,

so ya have to forgive me if i find this a bit suspicious to have a class action lawsuit if the majority of nonissues outweighs the issues

Has anyone signed that thing for the law suit attorneys to look at? Because I want to know if I should do it or just buy the new joycons coming out in October.

You know I don't actually have an issue with this as the joycon drift does appear to be a real problem. I have had it happen to me on occaision also and it does seem widespread.

I don't believe Nintendo has ever addressed it and I am not aware of any journalistic websites like this one doing their job and taking Nintendo to task over it.

Also this line "Nintendo's legal section has had to deal with plenty of other legal patent claims over the years" doesn't really apply as this isn't a patent claim.

@NotATest Agreed. Thats why I snagged this username years ago, everywhere I could. Bless ya for recognizing it.

@NotATest It's from Yu Yu Hakusho.Yoko Kurama the legendary fox.

I’ve never had issues

@ilikeike really? how about the n64 controller loose joystick? it’s near to impossible to repair unless you get a new one. and they are expensive.

the pseudorepairs that exists are a joke, it messes up the original optical sensor sensitivity. the crackable joints on the DS and the loose screens on the newer 3ds’s are other examples of hardware problems. and there are more

@AlternateButtons breaking: man tired of whiners whine that whiners whine to much

I never use the joy cons anyway really but that d-pad on the pro controller that really annoys me! No excuse for that

Fair's fair. If there's a genuine problem then I think this is a worthwhile case to pursue. Nintendo is charging people like £250-£300 for this thing, so it had better work basically perfectly--or else it should pay the price for its mistake.

Even though I an in the UK, I still filled out the form, just put in my 2 cents
@Liam_Doolan The actual direct link to the form is: https://chimicles.com/nintendo-switch-joy-con-drift-class-action-investigation/

This is not a Nintendo exclusive feature.
I haven't had any problem with my joy cons but I had a nasty drift on the dualshock that came with my ps4 and had to send it back for repair last year.

@Tyranexx Thanks, I love classic Simpsons.

The 8bitdo controllers seem to be the best built of the switch controllers I've used, my left joy con is a Mario kart nightmare!

@AlternateButtons I haveowned every nintendo console since the game cube. I have 3 dead joy cons. I have never seen faulty Nintendo hard ware before. This is not a taking care of hardware issue - it is a well document internal fault as the electronic connections inside the stock are liable to be damaged over time. The joy cons appear far more vulnerable than other controllers.

To be honest I am only sad this is only for US people, in the UK I cannot sign onto the lawsuit sadly

I have no quarrels with Nintendo, I accept Switch Tax and prices that rarely drop because of quality, not something that is seen in the JoyCons. All for this tbh, the price of them says they should work for more than a month.

Hm, I'm one of the first to call out Nintendo, when they do sh*t. But I've honestly never had an issue with my JoyCons. It's good that this problem becomes addressed officially, finally, though.

@MH4 So, all the people opening reddit threads and forum posts, even in comment sections like this one... We all failed to take every step other than taking it apart? You have a wild imagination, my friend.

@Not_Soos Anyone else had this?! I have this on one, and drift on the other! Oh dear!

Fixed the SL SR thing though, but it was a bit fiddly.
It's also due to very poor design. The cable fold for the rail inputs is flat like a 'V' and not like a 'U' shape, so at the point of the 'V' the metal connectors don't meet any more. I just about managed to wrap something around it to stop it from breaking connection, and voila! It works again... I took pics if anyone is interested to try it.

@AlternateButtons maybe the internet is tired of closed minded little boys like you. Don't have the issue? Lucky you. Maybe you should also just tell all of those with cancer that they should have taken better care of their health, even the ones that went running every day, didn't smoke and ate healthily. I take care of my items, you really have no mind to say this when you have no idea about it.

@AlternateButtons Wish that were true, but in this case it's just not.

I've always taken care of every console and controller I've had, and never had a single issue (execpt with Dreamcast lasers... but yeah whatever!), and both my JoyCons are trash. I still use them a bit, but mostly pro controller. It's honestly just bad design leading to faults in a noticeable percentage of units. That affects a lot of people. I don't want to spend another 80 on something that probably has a 25% chance of also being broken....

Those lawyers smell blood in the water, you know they're foaming at the mouth over those dollar signs.

That said, maybe this needs to happen to get their attention. At the end of the day they're just a company like any other. Sometimes you have to approach things from a legal pov

Here's a fact, all of you having this "issue" are simply being too rough on the hardware. I can guarantee most of you have a history of faulty or defective items in your possession. Is technology faulty? Yes, nothing is perfect and I'm sure there are true cases out there, but this is nothing short of someone getting greedy. First off, a class action lawsuit is nothing but a ploy by lawyers who think they're getting a big payday, that's it. You're gullible if you agree to join in because it does absolutely NOTHING for you. Secondly, I have 2 launch day Switch consoles, one of which is played by a 10 and 4 yr old daily. Theirs is in perfect condition, as is mine. For this "issue" to be ramping up out of nowhere like this (and it is) after 2 years of being on the market, the most of you are full of it or just destructive. That's a fact. If this was a serious issue it would have been taken care of within the first 6 months.

I have two sets of joy con. Launch day grey and Mario red. Both drift. Both have been temporary fix with contact cleaner. I don’t think I will buy anymore joy cons In fact they made me buy a pro controller

@DarkLloyd Take a look at the pole, Buddy.

I've never experienced drifting on my launch day Switch. I also never experienced any problems with the d-pad on the switch pro controller though. I must be really lucky 😂 The only problem I have is the blue joycon coming off the console really easily.

@Yorumi I bought 2 pro's at launch. Both have the dpad issue. For anyone who hasn't noticed just try going up a vine in Super Mario Bros 2. If you have the issue you'll soon drift to the left or right and fall off. Or try Zelda 1/2 on the map screen.

I sent 1 controller into Nintendo and they denied all responsibilty. Even though I have the issue on both controllers and made them aware of it. They wanted to charge me £34 per controller to fix it.

I just got them to return it
I bought an 8bitdo pro which I will use on future dpad games.

As for JoyCons I don't appear to have the issue although I haven't played using them or in handheld mode since Let's Go in November.

@Nintyfan Check your "facts", son. I have no history with any of my tech, not a single controller minus 15 year old ps2 controllers that just stopped registering inputs. Secondly, it's been on going for many, many months. Get over yourself, we're not all just making it up cause we have nothing better to do.

I have suffered Joy-Con drift for my first pair of Joy-Cons. I found this so frustrating that it’s changed the way I enjoy my switch at home. I used to play handheld in just about any room of the apartment, now I mostly play docked with the pro controller. I only use the Joy-Cons for fitness boxing. Yeah, agree that Nintendo deserve a slap for putting out this faulty product

@Nintyfan
I suppose all the people driving around with faulty Takata airbags are just driving their car wrong

Get your head out of your backside.

@edgedino I read this on the day I'm buying my Switch....now, should I?

@Nintyfan Glad to hear your thoughts. My son has a Switch, he never said anything. I was buying my Switch tonight. I'm pretty excited to finally get one...then I see this article I'm like, "I don't have time to deal with any extra problems right now."....I'm still prob going to buy it but I'm just a little leary. I do know that it started around the time of Dreamcast, Game Cube, X-Box, you couldn't move the analog stick while powering on the system because it would screw up the controls when the game was loaded....maybe it's the same here?

my left Joy-Con also started drifting after a year of use. my second pair is still functioning ok but this is really holding me off to buying a Switch Lite for my kid. the joy-cons can at least be replaced and docked mode we play with the pro-controller but when the the Lite gets this issue as well it means the whole Switch needs to be repaired.

I wonder if the Joy con is really made only for children since they have small hands.... The more I look at Nintendo hardware...lately everything is very tiny. Look @ D-pad of Gamecube... most be for child hands made. 3DS buttons and small screen... also very for children. And this Switch with Joy Cons also small buttons... i think Nintendo is only focused on Children market. The pro does fine because they know they have to compromise to older audience. Well that's how I see it. Don't attack me

Witness drift for the prosecution.
I'd rather sue Nintendo for releasing games with sub par frame rates! For my psychological distress caused by choppy frame rates under 60fps I'd like to sue Nintendo for millions of dollars : )

@ilikeike i have to agree they feel cheap and just plain not very well made, my drift started only 7 months after purchasing my switch i have heard reports of people having it within months or even days of purchase,this is completely unacceptable build quality

I'm on my third left one, which so far seems fine but can't say as I trust it to stay that way. There is at least a chance that the first one went bad due to it being crushed in a poorly chosen case though.

The right one has so far not given me any issues.

@DABYX As far as I understand it, the material that the sticks slide on to track players' movements is graphite. Dust is the graphite being worn away and accumulating as it is softer than the metal prongs. Thinking about how graphite works in pencils, it's not really surprising there are issues. Cleaning will work for a while as will calibration, but eventually the graphite is gone. I'm not sure that anything but a redesign is going to be good here.

I always use my pro-controller but I have been playing 'The Room' recently and for the first time I have used the Joy-Con to control.
It is absolute rubbish. Constantly drifting and every few seconds having to press R to re-center.
Ruins the game to be honest.

@AlternateButtons Haha! "It doesn't affect me so therefore I am right and everyone else is wrong!"

I have joy-con issues too. Sometimes they just stop working altogether and have to be forced off and recalibrated. Slight drift issues, too. It makes me not want to play the Switch so much, and I am extremely careful with my belongings.

Re: people saying everyone experiencing drift has been abusive to their hardware: I bought a brand new set of neon yellow Joy-Cons from Amazon. I don't even like yellow but I had hoped because yellow wasn't available at launch that they did a silent revision in the analog stick design.

Immediately had upward drift out of the box. I suppose I travelled back in time to the factory and smashed the stick for 24 hours straight to have caused them to drift out of the box, eh?

And yes, I tried calibration, reset to default calibration, update, all of the software non-solutions.

Nintendo expected me to pay for return shipping. I fixed it myself with electrical contact cleaner.

These are controllers with the cheapest parts that are sold at luxury good prices.

I have filled out the form on the lawyer's website and if they need me to sign on as a full plaintiff in order to get the class action lawsuit in Kentucky, I will be happily signing on.

I know I won't get much money — if any. It's not about that. It's about forcing Nintendo to acknowledge the issue.

I have owned Nintendo hardware since 1990 where my first console was an NES. The Joy-Cons were the first Nintendo controller I experienced issues with.

Nintendo needs to re-engineer the Joy-Con analog sticks, or go back to a design that worked and wasn't faulty such as the analog sticks in the nunchuk, or GameCube controller - those were built like tanks. And then they need to either send those who have defective Joy-Cons a prepaid box to return them in - or be like Logitech and just pre-emptively send out a replacement for anyone submitting an RMA.

@AlternateButtons i have got two sets that both have drift through normal use never been dropped or violently abused never used the joysticks roughly, my switch when not in use is stored in a hard case how could it be caused by me?

As a parent of a child with the Pokemon Nintendo Switch Lite already on his Christmas list, I'm definitely worried about joycon drift on the new NS Lite. I've got 2 sets of joycons and have had drift in one of the left ones. I consider myself fortunante that only 1 out of 4 have had this issue. But I am real worried about the NS Lite having this problem. I'm worried enough about this that I'm seriously considering not getting him the Lite and I hope other parents are equally as cautious. I really, really hope Nintendo has more common sense than releasing the new version with this issue and I hope buyers don't rush to the buy the product without having a resolution to this. I can see alot of NS Lites under Christmas trees this year and I hope folks won't to have to deal with the hassle of joycons malfunctioning after regular use. We shall see...

Both of my Joy-Cons suffered from drift, but because I got my Switch on launch day, they were out of warranty.

I tried recalibrating and cleaning them, to no avail. I ended up having to buy a Switch Pro Controller and replacement control sticks and perform surgery on my Joy-Cons.

But because one of the screws on the outer casing for the right Joy-Con was stripped, I had to use a Dremel tool to partially cut into the casing to open it up.

The Joy-Cons work fine now, but it was a female dog and a half to get them in working order again, due to the buttons becoming misaligned while I was repairing them.

I already sent the law firm a message regarding my issue. Hopefully they will contact me back soon.

I bought my son a Nintendo switch last year. The joy cons started drifting shortly after. I tried to recalibrate them like it said but that didn't work. I then bought ANOTHER pair this time pink and green ones and right out of the box it started. I bought a wired remote and no drifting. Seeing i bought the second joycons and right out of the box they drifted after i connected them to the switch would there be an issue with the system sounds odd but why would the new joy cons do the same exact thing brand new or of the box? Im not sure but sure would be a great thing if they fixed the problem. My son surly can't play Fortnite with them because he can't stay still he says.

I have a release day Switch and one of every color Joycon. Still haven't had a single issue with anything. I wonder if people are forgetting to update the Joycon firmware.

Hope this goes big and will teach nintendo a lesson

@Nintyfan Sorry, but you're incorrect. I've owned an NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, GameBoy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, Wii, Wii U, Switch, 3DS, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 4. All of these consoles are still in great condition. All of their controllers still work like the day they came out of the box. Except for my left JoyCon.

I've never broken a cellphone. I've never treated any console or controller roughly. I still have the drift. And I play my Switch maybe once a week, once every two weeks?

After 30 years of gaming, not once have I had a controller with any issues except for this JoyCon. I find it hard to believe that it's because I didn't take care of it.

Nintendo seems really good about fixing them at least. They don't even ask if it is still under warranty or not, they'll just tell you to send it in. I think they are well aware of the issue and want to accommodate as much as possible. Though I do hope they improve the joystick design very soon.

I love Nintendo and I've always held a great appreciation for their hardware quality. But I had to replace my Joy-cons before and I'm going to have to replace my son's as well. This is bad. It's heartbreaking that it's come to this, but usually Nintendo's stuff is spot on, well engineered and takes serious wear and tear to break. This is something they need to deal with, and if a lawsuit gets them working, so be it.

@Sakura Oh damn really?? Thanks for the explanation. Never heard of analogue sticks loterally deteriorating in such quick timeframes.

Now I'm curious if they could be repaired by individuals somehow. Hm..

@ilikeike it's justified lol I feel like superman vs the elite asking them how it feels to be deconstructed and have the law fight them for a change 😂.
Forget if this is the right vid but so quotable. https://youtu.be/oSfCC3mZ5jU

I had some issues with my original grey joycon after a year. Just bought some new neon ones after. They had issues too after awhile, got them replaced, then those replaced until finally, the ones I have now have been going strong for awhile.

Hopefully this lawsuit becomes something palpable and we'll bet some major improvements. I wouldn't want to have to get another few pairs...

Maybe the defect is intentional.

None of the controllers from all the Nintendo consoles I bought are as flimsy as the Joycons. The fact that the Joycons can be detached and replaced easily meant that Nintendo can earn quite a substantial amount just by selling them. Making them drift after a year when the warranty is over = users will have to buy an extra pair.

The Joycons are expensive, they are over 1/4 price of a Switch. They cost more than the pro controller or even Xbox1 and PS4 controller. Yet they don't last, drifting like crazy.

I support this. Nintendo is a great company, but their action/reaction towards this problem is seriously lacking.

Yep, about bloody time. I reached boiling point last weekend when my launch joycons continuously threw me off cliffs in Minecraft. Went out and bought a brand new set from Gamestop... 20 minutes later it's doing the exact same thing. There is something fundamentally wrong with their wireless connection and they still haven't fixed it after two and a half years.

Problem with the Joy-Con is the stick itself (an off the shelf part).
The contact pads are made out of graphite and it wears down leaving behind microscopic debris(which is the main problem that causes the drifting)

I've never had this issue personally on my Joy-Con, but for those who do (and for when my luck with them inevitably runs out), I'm hoping this lawsuit does something. I'm the biggest Nintendo fan on the planet (how many 34 year olds can you name that have a Super Mario throw on their bed?), but this issue absolutely needs to be addressed!

Kind of something that a lot of people had issues, because so far I didn't.

@Not_Soos
I had the same issue. Just got it back from being repaired by Nintendo. Cost me $30, which is without shipping because they took it off after I said that was too much and I could just buy new ones.

@Daldra Sadly, no. Pro Controllers still get drift due to the crappy quality of the potentiometers in them. The only upshot is that, unlike the Joy Cons, you can permanently fix your Pro Controller by replacing the potentiometers with better quality parts.

Hi all Jem here,
I normally just read the articles on Nintendolife but i had to take the time to chime in on this. So i (had) this issue and bought another set of joy cons but i could not let the issue go. Back in the day of the old VCR i use to use mentholated spirits to clean the head for reading and removing dust. So me being me.. tried it on the sticks by pouring a little around the bottom of the sticks on the joy cons and moved it around clicking the sticks .. I gave a few secs to dry and....."Link music" DADADaaaa all fixed. Mind you my warranty was all done but hope this helps. Happy gaming all!

I've always assumed it was a software issue. My original joycons had the issue out of the box. Initially it was mild but eventually became unplayable. I bought another pair, and the right one drifts about 50% of the time.

I sent in my left blue one under warranty and they fixed the drifting, but now it has another problem: it somehow disconnects from the console with even the slightest movement, often leaving me unable to do anything while the game keeps going on. I’ve lost so many hearts in Gungeon that way, and don’t even get me started on when that happens while playing Dark Souls. I can’t even pause the freaking game, so this issue usually amounts to instadeath.

This sounds like one of those lawsuits where the lawyers will get rich, and the customers will get the shaft.

@Jayofmaya yeah they are just a muppet. My switch had issue straight out of the box. Sent it back amazon for replacment but it was day 1 issue.

No clue if mine drift at all, I play with pro controller docked or on the go lol.

Those greedy a$$ sleazball attorneys will be ones laughing all the way to the bank.

Class actions are occasionally helpful for addressing real company negligence that individually customers could not, or have no right, to challenge. Usually, however, class actions, like patent infringement cases, are legally sanctioned shakedowns designed so that it's cheaper to just hand them blackmail money than to actually fight them on absurd claims that have no grounds to begin with. Simply to be accused and challenged puts a company in a situation that they pay $100M now and go on. Of pay $150M in fees and expenses over 5 years of distraction. It's the commercial version of a mugging.

However, in this case, there really is a class action against the product justified - BUT - they have the wrong target. It's not just Nintendo's Joycons. XBox 360 controllers lost tons of sticks to the same probelm. XBox One Elite Controller is infamous for the problem as well. I've never personally experienced it with a DualShock 4 but you don't have to search hard to find tremendous amounts of complaints of the same.

There is a fundamental problem with the 2-axis potentiometers all game controllers are using. Smart money says only one or two companies actually manufacture them. THOSE are the companies that need the legal scrutiny as it would appear none or few of their products actually have an acceptable durability standard. Of course smart money also says those are Chinese companies because the West, Japan, and Korea can't be bothered to manufacture their own....so good luck touching them.

WHERE DO I SIGN?

Yeah, all 6 of my joycon got the drift. LUCKILY I have a buddy that is capable of repairing it himself so it only cost me about 20 bones for all of them to be repaired instead of getting raped by Nintendo. Just filled out the form on the law firms website.

Well, I filled out the form. I've given Nintendo plenty of money over the years, so I think I'm entitled to have my Joy-Con fixed, as does everyone else experiencing this issue.

This doesn't really say what the aim of the lawsuit is. Such class action suits are usually because people are suffering losses or injuries. Are they suing because people lost some coins when Mario went pitching off the edge of the stage on the Darker Side course?

More seriously, I guess the aim is a major recall/free repair deal? Unfortunately, while moving parts in electronics get smaller and more delicate, while also being designed as more portable, dirt and grit stays the same size. So the impact of it getting in the works gets bigger. I don't tote the Switch around much, so I almost never use mine. I actually did have the issue with Odyssey I mentioned, and I haven't really used them since.

@NEStalgia I've had it with one joycon, one Pro controller, and two PS4 controllers. I don't know what awful new technology they're using that's different from previous hardware generations, but it needs to be rolled back.

Both of my joycons have been getting worse with every time i sit down to play a game sometimes to the point i can just set them down and sudenly my charecter starts walking almost like he is possessed but i dont have the money to get them fixed let alone get new ones so im stuck with trash controllers tell eather someone gets me a pair or we dont get high bills for a month or 2 but i do belive some of it is because of me not having a carrying case to protect it but even then its so bad that when i do calibrate them it even shows the bottom of the circle just bumps something that isnt there i hope i can new ones soon but i doubt it

Joycon drift on the "bright side" it gives me a excuse in smash bros. On the dark side it feeds me with unrivalled rage.

Please fix it. Also I'd love to have controllers that dont cost so much so I can afford paying for them.

So, Nintendo is facing lawsuit, for analog sticks..... wut?
SMH. That’s like calling 911 when the internet is out.

My left joycon has been drifting for a while but thankfully the calibration and compressed air trick (or a strong blast of air blown directly beneath the little flap thingy) seemed to fix the problem for a decent amount of time, that was up until recently anyway. The problem seems to be getting worse and the software fixes less effective, and now my right joycon has started to drift... Does anyone know if this lawsuit will help people outside of the US? The EU usually has stronger consumer protections, but I don't think we've ever been able to join in with class action lawsuits happening in America.

I am not playing devils advocate here but I find the fact that people feel the need to file a class action lawsuit over this kinda ridiculous considering how from what I have heard joy con drift can be easily fixed with a bit of WD-40 or some good old DIY if you are willing to go that distance. Its like comparing the drift to the Red Ring of Death on 360. at least with the joy cons you don't have to worry about them pretty much bricking your entire system. Of course Nintendo could have revised the joy cons behind the scenes to fix the problem which might explain why they have been relatively silent on the issue. Heck with the Switch Lite they probably did engineer the sticks to be less drift proof

My joy con ended up with the drift but I fixed it. At first I thought it was because of a kid I let play it but ended up just using rubbing alcohol on it and it went back to normal. Relief on me because I wasnt ready to send them in and be without playing for a period of time.

I'm honestly VERY happy about that. I play my Switch pretty frequently, yet my Left Joy Con has succumbed to drift, while my Right Joycon is perfect to this day. Annoyingly, I bought a replacement Left Joycon to replace my current one, and although it started off well, it had even worse drifting issues than mine had. Thankfully, the seller allowed returns, so I didn't waste any money, but... I still need a new Left Joy Con.... :/

Ive got 6 joycons that have all been used extremely excessively for smash bros with friends, and I have never had this problem, so I guess I got really lucky. I do wonder what causes it though.

@DABYX Yes, they can be repaired and it's not that difficult (can't be if I managed it). There are loads of videos on YouTube. Spawnwave's is a good one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMHl7GwbEb0

The replacement sticks cost £3-5. You'll need the right size screwdriver too. Some sticks come with that.

@Roto13 Actually, that's an easy one. Not that it was great with previous generations either, but the way these things work, they are recentered by either very very very very tiny springs, or just bits of rubber. These parts are very thin and high precision like a mechanical watch, and if anything changes their tensioning properties, they're at end of life. Some are calibrated with a tiny screw, and if anything nudges the screw, including temperature change, they're done (that said, I doubt Switch's micro parts have adjustable screws.) And generally at the factory, the pots are calibrated for the specific board they're soldered to (it works by measuring voltage across a resistor - each board will have very slight voltage differences.) Basically if anything changes at all about the resistor, the tension devices, or it's ability to divide voltage with absolute precision - it drifts. And atop all that, they're built to a price point from cheapest parts.

@Daldra The drift also affects the Pro Controller. It happened to me, and it will happen to YOU! Hahaha. Seriously though, it may happen, and looking online, it has happened to a LOT of people.

I have 6 controllers. 4 of which experience this. I have to re align them n just counter the problem myself.
Not very happy with it as most of my controllers are limited edition versions.

I had my two pairs' sticks changed, and soon I'll have my Pro Controller repaired for the same issue. It does sucks ball, being a Nintendo user all my life and just experiencing this again, the N64 joysticks had the same problem.

I find this all strange because none of my family’s four Joy-Con have had any problems whatsoever in a year and a half.
It has to be a manufacturing defect that Nintendo didn’t know about and can’t figure out how to fix, and that only shows up in some controllers.

@celestian1998 Same with me, no problems. Maybe certain batches have defects?

@Jayofmaya I’m just saying, I’m a little bit skeptical that this issue requires legal action. I’m not saying it’s not a problem, obviously it is, but I’m not so sure it’s as widespread of a problem as it sounds.

@Totaldude911 Interesting. I wonder why I’ve only experienced it once?

Thank both of y’all for replying to me. I’m legitimately curious about this whole situation, and I appreciate the discussion. 😊

I too have this issue in my left joycon, at least since late last year. Now recently my right joycon has it. Re-calibrations, disconnect/reconnect of joycons, firm presses and rotations, and compressed air have all mitigated the issue as I can work the sticks good enough to get the drifting to calm down, but yeah, even someone like me who has taken care of Nintendo hardware WELL since the NES AS A KID, my account should not be scoffed at. I was experiencing this issue on my own when it first began, then I said, "This is odd, let me check online to see if there's a recall, blog conversation, or YouTube vids"-- Lo and behold there they were. Was EVERYONE wrong? Is EVERYONE abusive? Sure, I have no doubt some people are just bandwagoning, but there's a real issue out here happening too much to too many people. These joycons are $80 a pair. I wouldn't be surprised if cheaper 3rd party joycons at least didn't have the drift issue. I'm just shocked that Nintendo was so resistant to this-- Usually this would be a "no warranty, no prob, just send it in for repair!" like I've done with Nintendo hardware before, but I'm not paying a dime for sticks that have a tiny skirt that fails to keep dust from getting on the contacts. It's poor, cheap design/parts, and for a company that has made controllers for years, and pushing back, is surprising, and THAT'S why people are up in arms. I will gladly sign if this is what it's come to sadly. Address the issue for free, or comp everyone. For those that haven't had the issue, great, but those few that brag about it, please grow up.

@MH4 Well, it's not that I or many others are seeking any compensation for the malfunctioning hardware, it's that Nintendo haven't addressed the issue or made any future plans for an updated version. I only bought 1 extra pair, so I can deal with getting one more set for my solo play in the future, but I will not do so until there's a guarantee the same won't happen suddenly.

@Jayofmaya That’s fair, and a smart idea. Thanks for replying again. I’ll probably hold off on buying another pair.

@DreamerAbe86 Hey no problem. Yeah, They do not fix some of the things you mentioned but I always get grips for all my handhelds to try and get better ergonomics.

I left my Switch at work but I have a Skull & Co. GripCase from Amazon on it now. Comes with 4 grips.

https://skullnco.com/collections/switch-gripcase/products/gripcase-only

But if I need to replace the controller, Just figure to change the entire thing. Not had a controller with "Turbo" since I was like 12... I am super excited about that 😂

Me too right stick drifts down and gets stuck left stick drifts left.

@MH4 If I were you I'd try and get a set of Daemon x Machina hori controls for handheld, they have real sticks in them. As for table top play or docked play, 2 pro controllers (for local co-op) of some kind. I use a Wii U Pro right now with 8BitDo receiver but it cuts out and I have to re-insert the UsB constantly, so still hunting around for that. Possibly the SN30 +, or perhaps a PowerA one. If you have any experience with pro controllers let me know! Thanks for replying.

@CharlieGirl It’s a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’

@AlternateButtons Here’s the truth: your Joycons will drift someday soon

@XXPHYCOKILLERXX Same: during calibration I can’t get the left stick to hit the bottom-right of the circular test. It’s maddening

@Jayofmaya I have 2 Switch Pro Controllers and a GameCube adapter, as well as 4 working GCN controllers. The DXM Hori controls do look awesome, so I’ll get them if I get the chance. Thanks much!

My Joy-Con work perfectly, got them about a year ago. But I don't understand why some people have the audacity to tell people they are abusing their controller for a commonly experienced flaw. Even if it was a "minority" why would you not want them to fix it??

@Roto13 Yup. DualShock 4s also have garbage shoulder buttons. I’ve had two different controllers break that way (I mistook No Man’s Sky for having bad controls), and the third was indeed a drifting problem. But the drifting wasn’t nearly as bad as my Joycons.

By far, Microsoft has the best, long-lasting controllers.

@Joe-b The difference is that Joycons usually recalibrate when reattached to the main unit. But because the controls are constantly drifting, the calibration is always off.

A bit of an overreaction to create a class action lawsuit over it. I've had drift in both my Joy-Cons for about a year, which were produced at launch and came with the console purchased within days of its March 3, 2017 release date. All it is is some dust under the analog sticks. The only reason I'm tolerating it for now is because I can't find the activator top to my can of compressed air, and I'd rather find it when I'm not looking for it than spend for another can (other priorities, etc.).

The Switch is not the only console to have minor issues like these, if anything Joy-Con drift is an improvement over other console controllers. Within a month of light use in the 2000s, we had two brand new PlayStation 2 Dualshock controllers break, one of their analog stixks on the first one somehow broke internally after being lightly clicked-in, you could hear the spring jangling around inside the controller. The other one's right shoulder button became stuck and wouldn't activate with normal pressure. The DualShock controller in my experience is a cheap plastic toy compared to built-like-a-tank Nintendo controllers like the GameCube's.

@SBandy Kotaku recently posted their own gripe articles about the issue.

I’ve experienced the drift with both joy-cons. The left is more prone to having it happen but I read about a diy fix involving blowing compressed air under the rubber flap below the thumb stick. I simply used a straw and blew into it. It seems to improve the drift but only temporarily. It goes away after trying that technique but comes back after a period of time. It’s definitely better overall but not completely gone. I end up doing the straw/compressed air method once or twice a week. I really shouldn’t have to do that. The only positive is that it brings me back to my days of being a kid and having to blow air from my mouth into the original NES carts. Thanks for the nostalgia, Nintendo!

@Joe-b if u mean send in for repairs yes definitely so long as your still under warranty and have a extra controller.

I got the drift then a few months later the purple screen of death and I never even used any third party devices. I've been a fan since day 1 and this has really disappointed me.

@AlternateButtons I'm not sure you can say it's nonsense. Mine started about 3 months after launch, my son's started about 6 month after I bought it for him. My two friends who own switches have both sent theirs back, one multiple times , it's annoying and it's very real and nothing to do with 'not looking after hardware' my switch is immaculate.... It's a design fault plain and simple

Doesn't the drift come from dust getting under the sticks? I get this with my xbox elite controller because I leave it out of its case for long periods. Shouldn't blame Nintendo per se.

And this is probably why Nintendo has been silent about the issue. Any public statement could be construed against them in a lawsuit. Apple did the same thing and refused to make any public comments on their butterfly keyboard.

Nintendo honestly needs to either lose the lawsuit or finally take the initiative to do something about this mess. Nintendo's legacy is timeless quality, both with reliable hardware and excellent software. Joy-cons alone are tarnishing their legacy.

I hate to be cynical, but I highly doubt Iwata would have OK'd such cheap Chinese parts being used for the joystick reader. Just the thought of Furukawa becoming the next Tim Cook by taking the company down the wrong path --maximizing profits and sacrificing quality-- fills me with dread.

I’m filling this form in, I think probably every switch has had this issue as I have bought 3, and my friends all experience the same thing. The latest one was brand new and started to drift when I move forward, and my other 2 also did the same with movement control. Also the left shoulder button does not register all the time when pressing it. I also know it’s pointless buying Joy-Cons as all the switch models have this issue ( well all mine have and 6 of my mates who own a switch)
Has anyone owned a switch for more then 3 months with no problems at all with their Joy-Cons??!
If so they are very lucky! Nintendo should be ashamed having such a widespread issue with their newest systems as they always used to pride themselves on the quality of their products.

Oh yes, I definitely have been experiencing drift more and more - in everything I play. I thought it was just me, but it appears it's a much wider problem than I thought! Ninty, please fix it. It's really annoying how it interferes with gaming. Thanks.

@Sawdy I bought one brand new and it happened on that straight away, but dust can do that.
I think there is more to it though with this, as my last 3 switches have all had the Joy-Cons drift.

@EdwinJ No that's not at all the same. The lawsuit is because they put out a faulty product and are doing little to nothing to remedy it

@AlternateButtons I, too, complain about people complaining when they aren't perfectly synonymous with my strictly anecdotal experiences and understandings.

My joy cons drift left so bad that I can't play an auto Mario Maker 2 level without dying from drift.

@Antraxx777 Well, I bought a Switch tonight anyway! I'm pretty excited. Applied the screen protector, inserted a 128gb sd card, linked to an account.....now it's charging..can't wait to download some games tonight. Sega Ages games and Monster Boy will be first.

@AlternateButtons
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/07/poll_have_your_joy-con_been_drifting

The current NL Poll puts unaffected users at about 24%. Granted, it's a relatively small sample size, but that seems pretty statistical.

@Joe-b Should have waited another month and a half for the improved battery model.

I'm ok with this.

I have 4 set and I've had this issue with at least 3 of the sets. Did not realize it was such a huge issue.

@Franklin
My pro controller joystick went rogue during Dragon Quest Builders 2. Online faq said, "blow hard around the joystick. Dust gets in there." Tried it. It totally fixed the issue. Now, if I could get the d-pad to work on this d-pad heavy title. I keep 'putting away' items and materials. I just want to scroll! (Hope this helps you.)

I've never had an issue on any of there consoles. I'm sure with how many they make they could have a couple out of the millions the make that are faulty ba that I've never had issues mine works great although very uncomfortable lol great idea though if you had issues with previous consoles from nintendo why bother buying a Nintendo lol Americans will moan about anything

@PerishSong especially considering this is a site for people who use nintendo stuff.
i even have a drifting issue, used to be temporarily solved just by putting the joy con into the switch and taking them back out or giving them a small tap on a hard surface, but now i have to to my small sheetz card lift the rubber and blow into it like i used to have to do with pre-game cube nintendo systems & game boys

I hasn’t had issues with the drift (thankfully) but I hope this class actions leads to free solutions to those that have experience it and don’t have warranty since it expired, and it leads to Nintendo fixing the damn issue. It is a pretty bad look selling $80 controllers that have a very high chance of failing.

@Majora101 you have failed to read the guides on fixing the drifting. It's not only dust. When mine started doing it I googled and found tge advice about dust. I have a lot of dust in my old room at my parents house and I stay there every other month for a night or two. I figured that was it, so bought some compressed air and followed the steps. The drift wasn't as often, only happening once a minute instead of every 30 seconds or less, but it was still there. I've tried this method again and again to no avail. I've also replaced the cap and resync, recalibrate method, updated, etc... All that is left is to take it apart which I really loathe the idea of

@Jayofmaya I felt the same way about taking apart controllers until I sat down and did it with a GameCube controller. It's not terribly difficult, and it's very easy to put back together. It's a good practice to get into, as an annual cleaning can do wonders for these controllers. You wouldn't believe how much gunk and nastiness find their way into these things. I know for a fact that dirt is responsible for the drift issue in my Joy-Cons, as they were immaculate until a brief period where the console travelled unprotected in my backpack.

Part of the issue is that the console obviously lends itself very well to portable use, and unlike past handhelds like the 3DS which have shorter control sticks built to keep dirt out as well as an outer shell to protect the interface from the outside, the Switch features deep sticks with a wide base apt to act as a basin for dirt with no outer protection unless you separately purchase a case for it. This is simply a byproduct of well-loved portable consoles. No new issue, either, the Game Boy line featured D-pads that would start to stick after a few years if you let enough dirt build up under it. It's simply a matter of maintaining your electronics, especially if they travel with you and see a lot of the outside world.

Finally they're going to do something about this problem with these cheap controllers that people been wasting 80$ on.

I am experiencing this problem as well. It is only in the left joy con joystick. It started out as a minor annoyance that very rarely happened, but the problem just got/gets worse as time goes by. Using a wired controller bypass the problem, then I can't use my Amiibos. I have been and always will be a Nintendo fan.

@Majora101 I had a case from day 1, though and never had this issue, even with the gameboy phat or colour when I was a kid and I used to take those round friends and school on play days, etc. Anyway, I am going to take apart both my left ones where the issue is and attempt to fix them, but only so I can sell on if they're working as new again. It's a lot of hassle to keep fixing it and I'm sure it will happen again because there's no way I could keep them better, except maybe in relatively big baggies, sealed up. It seems like it just happens with prolonged use, also, though.

So before anyone contacts them read the fine print...

(*) Indicates required field. When communicating with us through this site or otherwise in connection with a matter for which we do not already represent you, your communication may not be treated as privileged or confidential, and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and our Firm.

So this isn't legal protection for you should they be forced to turn over your names and information to Nintendo legal counsel.