A patent filed by Nintendo suggests that they’re working on Hall Effect style joysticks for the Switch 2 that would eliminate stick drift almost entirely.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 121 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Joycon drift, and all other thumbstick drift, is already a solved problem.

Use bushings that actually have some abrasive resistance and aren't softer than a fingernail.
Use a non-contact based sensor to determine the XY position of the stick. Hall effect, optical, strain gauge, whatever, we've had the tech for 50 years.

The reason why they haven't done this is one very simple reason: $$$

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Isn't the N64 controllers using optical sensor and those are one of the worst controller ever existed?

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

N64's issues came from the bushings wearing out, the sensors were still very good

[–] Royal_Bitch_Pudding 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Primarily the plastic bowl

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yup. If they'd just made the bowl out of something OTHER than ABS, they would have been good. Delrin, PTFE, even a thin layer of brass or broze, and those controllers wouldn't have had anywhere near the amount of issues they're known for having.

There are third-party manufacturers who sell replacement bowls and sticks, made from everything from POM to steel.

load more comments (7 replies)