The Nintendo Switch will go down as one of the most successful video game consoles of all time, but it wasn’t perfect. Thankfully, the Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly set to fix its biggest problem.
When it was first revealed, the biggest selling point of the Switch was the Joy-Cons. The idea of being able to stick low-profile controllers into the side of a console to take it on the go was a mind-blowing concept. So too was the ability to pop out the kickstand, turn the Joy-Cons sideways, and have an impromptu co-op session.
The trouble is that Nintendo Switch owners quickly discovered that Joy-Cons were an A+ idea with D-level execution. According to a series of leaks, that’s set to be fixed by the console’s successor.
Switch 2 reportedly fixes Joy-Con stick drift issues
The Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly overhaul the Joy-Cons’ analog sticks, using new technology that will greatly decrease or eliminate the likelihood of stick drift.
There have been a string of leaks related to the Nintendo Switch 2 in December. Multiple established peripheral manufacturers began posting promotional materials for planned products for the new console. This revealed numerous key changes to the hardware including new buttons a new method for docking Joy-Cons, and a new USB-C slot.
This likely stuck in Nintendo executives’ teeth on its own, but the ante got upped from there.
A Redditor named “NextHandheld” claims to have their hands on a fully manufactured Switch 2. Assembly of the units was officially confirmed to begin in September 2024. NextHandheld’s claims regarding the Switch 2 have partly been corroborated and cited by The Verge.
NextHandheld makes a number of claims regarding the Switch 2, among them being the use of Hall Effect analog sticks. Hall Effect sticks would do a great deal in terms of fixing the limited durability of the Joy-Con’s sticks.
What are Hall Effect joysticks?
Hall Effect joysticks are analog sticks for video game controllers that utilize magnets for detecting whether the sticks are being moved, rather than mechanical components. These sticks will reportedly be used in Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons.
In the simplest terms, standard joysticks effectively use mechanical means, like gears, levers, or sliders, to determine the angle at which the stick is being pressed. This system has been used in almost all analog sticks throughout gaming history. The key issue is that small mechanical components inevitably break after use.
Many different controllers associated with major consoles have had issues with analog sticks breaking. The Nintendo Switch, however, has become downright notorious for sticks breaking after just weeks of use, resulting in analog sticks irreparably drifting.
Hall Effect joysticks remedy this by using magnets instead of mechanical components. These sticks have small magnets in place that move over sensors attuned to the X and Y axis to determine how the stick is being used. This removes the fine machinery that plagued Switch hardware, and many other gaming devices.
Hall Effect sticks only started becoming popular in 2023, but have been used by numerous third-party controller manufacturers. They’re also available for sale individually for controller modders.
If the leak proves true, the Switch 2 would become the first major piece of video game hardware to use the sticks.
