Nintendo's Joy-Cons are very smart, clever little controllers in various ways - HD Rumble, motion controls and the flexibility to be turned sideways for on-the-go multiplayer. However, you don't have to go far to find someone that has encountered reliability issues with the analogue sticks - this writer has gone through multiple sets and knows others with similar problems. Thankfully not everyone has these issues, but they are certainly a factor.
'Joy-Con drift' has even led to attempts at lawsuits, and the lingering hope is that Nintendo is continually improving their reliability through manufacturing batches. With the Switch OLED being announced, however, it's worth noting that its compatibility and same-ness with existing models includes Joy-Cons. Taken from an FAQ on Nintendo UK's official website, there's confirmation that even Joy-Cons bundled with the new hardware are the same as existing models on the market.
Q4. Can I use the Joy-Con controllers I currently have with Nintendo Switch (OLED model)?
Yes. The Joy-Con controllers included with Nintendo Switch (OLED model) are the same as the controllers currently available.
It's not surprising, but nevertheless we thought it was worth clarifying this as we all know how speculation can be misleading online.
Here's hoping that current-day manufactured Joy-Cons are a little better at avoiding drift, but don't necessarily bet on it.
[source nintendo.co.uk]
Comments 61
The Joy-Con actually have 4K Rumble. Insiders told me
Hmm. So just a slightly bigger screen, different stand, more storage and an ethernet port? Wow.
The color is really cool, hopefully we are able to buy this seperately
Drift is something Nintendo should have corrected a long time ago. It's a flaw that should have been addressed by them more responsibly, regardless of any Switch revisions or models.
Of course it's a good opportunity to make things right, but let's not count on it
Well that's definitely disappointing. The Joy-Cons are great, on paper. And they actually are great, if they function properly. But the drift is such a huge problem with these things that I just don't enjoy using them for any games anymore and I don't understand why Nintendo won't tackle the problem already.
Well, whatever. Thankfully the Pro controllers are great.
Fixing drift is easy just get a split pad pro job done!
@Yosher Pro controllers can also drift — it’s happened to me with a couple of them. And there’s no free repair for those.
Still waiting for Hori or some reputable 3rd party (not those knockoffs) to release a TRUE split pad pro with wireless + NFC + HD rumble (everything but IR camera)
Pretty sure I won't be jumping in day 1 like I did back in 2017, then. That said I'll probably get one after the supply has stabilised as my battery life leaves a lot to be desired at this point.
spending $350 to get joy con drift get ***** Nintendo
@Synecdoche True, but it happens a lot less with those, at least in my experience. All of my Joy-con drift (I have two pairs that I use), but none of my Pro controllers drift (I swap between three of those). And I've used my Pro controllers a HECK of a lot more than the Joy-con, even before I started experiencing drift on those Joy-con.
please sell these seperately i've been yearning for white joycon since the grey ones
They can't fix drift on the joy cons now, that would basically be admitting there was a fault. They're in too deep now and have to pretend that as far as they're concerned there's nothing wrong except for a 'few' cases.
Do newly manufactured joy-cons or Switch Lite models still suffer from drift, my newest pair of joy-cons never had it, and my od joy-cons never had it again after replacing the sticks (the article on this site for doing it is really helpful), so did Nintendo "fix" the problem?
@Screen No, they didn't; Lite models are just as susceptible to the problem. New Joy-Con, too, but fortunately they're free to fix if you live in the US.
Okay even more reason to not buy it.
No surprise here at all.
Very classy, Nintendo. Don't fix the issue. If they did that, they may not get sued! Buncha punks
New costly console, same JoyCon drift. Dreamy marketing.
The drift cons
Nintendo is openly selling defective products without repercussion. Amazing
I know I’m probably being pessimistic, but I expected very little from a new Switch model, but even then this STILL somehow managed to be super underwhelming.
I mean its only 350 bucks right? I mean thats not to bad right?
Man I was just about to post something saying this console would be worth it if they got rid of drift.
Dang ppl are bashing this upgrade pretty hard. For me it took a really long time for the drift monsters to finally attack, and while bummed a little, for whatever reason it hasn’t tainted my love for the switch.
Maybe I’m one of those guys in a different reality that wouldn’t mind taking my DeLorean to the shop due to its poor build quality b/c I love the car so damn much 🤷♂️
@Old-Red That makes no sense. If they're not going to admit it either way, they may as well fix it so people stop complaining.
The article's a bit silly it says the controllers are the same, but they might not be... Point being they still fit on the rails. If they changed the sticks on the controllers last year, they'd still be the same controllers!
@Synecdoche Why no free repair, don't they come with a warranty like everything else? I'm sure they do in Europe (though who knows, in the UK, now).
@Old-Red This must be the answer and honestly it's a scandal. I have eight joy-cons in my home and they all drift to a greater or lesser extent. All fixes - even invasive ones - are only temporary. I would have been willing to spring for "Pro" joy-cons but if they're legally compelled to release the same old faulty ones then this new Switch model is DOA for me.
What's the point of a fancy new screen for handheld mode when my character walks inexorably into the sea no matter what I do?
I want those so bad. I have an NES backplate on my current Switch and those Joycon would look so nice. I hope they release them separately.
@John_Deacon really sad when you visit a friend/relative with a Switch and the drift is so bad that characters are running in one direction when the sticks are idle. This is normal gameplay for many people.
@needmorecowbell there is a difference with being critical of one (major) area of the Switch experience - controls - and talking about the Switch as a whole. The Switch is probably the best system I have ever owned. Full stop.
@Synecdoche Yeah it’s brutal. I’m on my third. The only consolation is it’s over the course of years and thousands with competitive games that put them trough it (Splatoon and Smash).
It sucks because I prefer the Pro to a Gamecube controller for Smash, but it tears up the controller the way I play and I am as yet unsponsored haha.
@Synecdoche Every joystick can drift. I have drift on a Dual Shock 4 controller I bought four months ago. Meanwhile my Switch Pro Controller has been taking a daily beating since March 10, 2017 and no drift.
The Joy-Cons are especially prone to drifting, I'm not denying that. I've gone through several of them in the last four years. But the PC is largely problem-free, at least as problem-free as any modern controller.
So, still drifty, then.
Let's go after the 'LEAKER'. He/She needs to pay for this disastrous news lol
@buggysdad yeah, it totally sucks. I have two pairs of joy cons and one of them is useless now. It drifts often, so you can't play comfortably because it'll happen any time.
Now I rely on an 8bitdo SN30 pro for most of my gaming. Some buttons are noisy but I believe (and I pray) my 8bit do is sturdy. Let's see how long it goes. I'm trying to spare the other set of joy cons because I know they'll eventually drift too.
In the end, it's a sad thing because I just love my switch and that's the only complaint I have about it. As a consumer I feel bad because nintendo couldn't care less about the issue and here where I live there's no free repair for it
I see Nintendo aren't going with a proper dpad, either
The rumors where for a switch Pro controller not for a new switch pro. 🤣
why would they even change them? the flimsy joycons are a huge part of the business model.
@buggysdad Super valid point there **tips cap**
@Mando44646 Only Nintendo can pull this off and get away with it.
Nintendo could of course handle the dirft issue better, but for fixing the root cause I think Nintendo's supplier simply can't figure out a solution. All "normal" joysticks in pretty much every controller out there use the exact same mechanism just with different plastic caps on top so to me that looks like there aren't many different companies that have the know-how to make something like this. Maybe it is even just one company that supplies everybody. That means Nintendo can't go to a different supplier to try to fix the issue, eather.
So they are pretty much f*cked. The only thing they could do is make bigger "Joy Con Pro" that use regular sticks.
EDIT: to clarify: I meant that all controllers use the same mechanism, except the Joy Con, but that tells me that the same company probably also makes the mechanism used in the Joy Con because there simply aren't many companies that make parts like this.
Drift or no drift I dislike the joy cons hate the flimsy ness of the stick and feels like it could break any sec, but as someone said above part of the business model. D pad gaming forever! D pad drift anyone? Xx
The ONE thing they could have finally fixed...
@YoungLink64 I reckon the general feel of the units is very solid & high quality.
To people with drift - try Nintendrew’s solution
This was the most disappointing thing about the reveal. I've binned all my Joycon. Got electrical contact cleaner, that fixed them temporarily. Then attempted to swap the joysticks. Managed to do it on one, but it didn't fix the issue. The rest I couldn't get all the screws off.
Been playing games for decades, and I've never seen a failure rate this high.
This still doesn't prove anything though. I don't mean to spread rumors after Nintendo supposedly clears up the possibility of rumors, but come on, do you really expect them to come out and say "Yes, you can use your old Joy Con controllers or the new OLED model Joy Con which no longer drift!"? No, they will hide that close to their chest and possibly never bring it up outright because they don't want to admit their failure. And can you blame them, when they have on going court battles over it?
it is quite disappointing especially with the wii period when nintendo released the wii remote plus which added a far more better experience with motion controls, i guess that is something nintendo don't take priority about anymore
@YoungLink64 My comment was written with that understanding
As long as there are current litigation over this, Nintendo will never publicly acknowledge JoyCon drift issues even if they were to fix them.
(Getting off of weeks of Puyo Tetris and now Mushihimesama)
Joycons have analogue sticks?
The plural of joy-con is joy-con
@John_Deacon prior to the free repair deal in the US, I would buy a repair kit from Amazon for $10 for a pack of four. It was tedious, but worked.
ok but i need those WHITE JOY CONSSSS
Now we can drift in style
Not surprised in the slightest. It's just kind of pathetic considering they want $350 for this thing and still can't be bothered to fix an issue that has been going on for several years.
@Dragonslacker1 in terms of durability the joy cons are probably just slightly above the Atari 5200 controllers. Got a hori split pad pro for when I'm undocked and I'll never look back.
@SwitchVogel Not just the US, I'm in the UK and have had mine fixed for free through the Nintendo Repair.
They have fixed my left one 2 times (and my second left joycon once) and my right one once
Don't worry, Nintendo just confirmed it has drift just like the other ones.
I'm glad they didn't try anything stupid with this.
2021 and still no updated Joy Con...
We had updated Wiimotes.
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