Joy-Con Drift: A Flawed Legacy

Nintendo Joy-Con Drift Debacle: A Timeline of Technical Failures, Lawsuits, and Ongoing Suspicions

Over half a decade, Nintendo has grappled with the fallout of an established and widespread issue that has plagued its popular gaming hardware: Joy-Con drift. At first dismissed by some as a short-term technical issue, the phenomenon has escalated into one of the gaming industry's largest consumer protection controversies. And just as it seemed that dust was at last beginning to settle, new reports suggest the problem remains far from being over — and now may also plague the Switch Pro controller that comes with the 2023 release of Tears of the Kingdom.

What is "Joy-Con Drift"?

The issue, labeled as "Joy-Con drift", is a defect wherein the detachable controllers of the Nintendo Switch register movement even when the user has not actually touched the joystick. In-game, this causes characters to auto-move or camera angles shift randomly — an frustrating experience that could ruin game immersion or even make certain titles impossible to play.

Since the Nintendo Switch was released in 2017, customers around the globe have been complaining about this issue. What started as isolated complaints grew into a large-scale problem, gaining momentum on social media, consumer forums, and eventually in courtrooms.

Early Admission and Nintendo's Apology

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa issued a public apology in June 2020, which was unusual. Furukawa acknowledged the issue and apologized for the disruption that was caused and that Nintendo was still trying to get the product improved.
Source: Polygon – Nintendo President Apologizes for Joy-Con Drift

Nintendo of America already quietly fixed Joy-Cons at no cost since 2019 due to growing consumer discontent.
Source: Engadget – Nintendo Offers Unlimited Free Repairs in Europe

The Technical Reason for the Problem

A UK consumer group study discovered in December 2022 that the drift results from both internal wear and inadequate protection against dust.
Researchers found that dust-defying cowls that were meant to keep dust out of the console proved useless, and the plastic circuit boards found underneath the analog sticks displayed clear signs of wear.
Source: GameRant – Joy-Con Drift Linked to Design Flaw

Legal Backlash and the Role of the EULA

Dozens of class action lawsuits were filed, mainly in the United States. One of the most recent was dismissed early in 2023 due to the fact that Nintendo's End User License Agreement (EULA) prohibits users from pursuing any legal action if they have agreed to the terms.
Source: Nintendo Life – Nintendo Wins Joy-Con Drift Class Action Lawsuit

This legal protection outraged consumers but demonstrated the ability of fine print to significantly limit legal recourse.

Europe Fights Back

Although Nintendo's legal shields succeeded in the U.S., the European Commission was not so understanding. Under pressure from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), Nintendo in early 2023 pledged to provide free repairs for life for Joy-Cons afflicted by drift in the EU.
Source: European Commission Press Release

Pro Controller Drift Controversy

No sooner did the controversy seem to subside, when gamers began reporting drift with the Tears of the Kingdom-named Switch Pro Controller — in some cases immediately upon unpacking the box.

Redditors shared stories of having drift on new controllers, which suggests that this issue may be of a distinct nature from Joy-Con drift, which typically emerged after a while.
Source: Reddit Thread – TOTK Pro Controller Drift

While some attempted to downplay the problem and claim calibration would fix it, others — even eyewitness testimony — suggest calibration won't do.
Source: Nintendo Life – PSA About TOTK Pro Controller Calibration
Users' counterpoint: Reddit Comment on Calibration Bug

It isn't clear whether the EU repair program includes Switch Pro Controllers or if Nintendo will provide an extended support.

The Broader Context

Despite ongoing promises of "continuous improvement" — such as those made by Nintendo of America's Doug Bowser in 2021 — persistent drift issues in 2023 and beyond cast very serious doubts regarding Nintendo's quality control.
Source: Nintendo Life – Doug Bowser Comments on Joy-Con Drift]

If Pro Controllers are shipping with drift straight out of the box, as has been rumored, then Nintendo may again be selling defective products — something that, by EU and U.S. law, could constitute deceptive or even fraudulent if undisclosed.

Joy-Con Drift Issues Continue for Nintendo Switch 2

Despite previous assurances, concerns around Joy-Con drift continue with the new Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo has confirmed that the new Joy-Cons will not have Hall effect joysticks, a technology that has been boasted for drifting avoidance through the cancellation of physical interaction within the joystick mechanism. The company instead opted for redesigned analog sticks that are larger and supposedly more durable, but still based on older potentiometer tech. The Verge

While Nintendo demands improvements in durability and performance, the absence of Hall effect sensors, however, raises questions about whether there will be a long-term drift problem. Some have doubts, as have consumers and industry analysts, that, without adopting newer technologies aimed primarily at eradicating drift, maybe the problem isn't being solved at all.

It must be pointed out that Nintendo has not been forthcoming with detailed technical details of the new joystick design, and this is creating room for speculation and concern among gamers. Until the Switch 2 arrives and is subjected to real-world use, whether or not the design changes will prove effective in addressing the drift issue is unclear.

• A worldwide and ongoing expansion of the free repair program to all Nintendo controllers afflicted by drift.
• Clarity on the design changes that have occurred in newer hardware.
• Rigorous quality assurance testing to detect stick drift before controllers reach consumers.

Until Nintendo officially comments on these issues and secures future controllers to be drift-free, the shadow of this hardware bug will continue to weigh over one of the most popular consoles of our time.