Nintendo’s soon to be released gaming innovation, the Switch 2, has gamers all worked up. They’re panic over the lack of Hall Effect sticks in the new Joy-Con 2 gamepads. ADVANCED DRIFT CONTROL Hall Effect sticks quickly and reliably prevent drift. This is a marked improvement over the original Joy-Con controllers, that have had a rampant history of this. Its players have recently come out en masse complaining of significant stick drift. That begs the question of long-term performance and reliability of this new model given its lack of such technology.
Hall Effect sticks accomplish motion detection through the use of magnetic fields. This tech makes them more durable and resistant to wear and tear compared to standard analogue sticks. This new technology has grown in popularity because even modest drift reductions can save many lives over the long term. Nintendo has officially stated that the Joy-Con 2 controllers do not use Hall Effect sticks. Unfortunately, this revelation leaves most fans concerned they will be met with the same pitfalls as previously experienced.
The changes to the Joy-Con 2 controllers are all about improving accessibility and creating a more comfortable experience, including an emphasis on larger and smoother movements. Tetsuya Sasaki, a key figure in the development team, stated, “As you may have witnessed and felt, the new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2 have been really designed from the ground up from scratch, and they have been designed to have bigger movement and smoother movement.”
Despite the acclaim for the look and feel — which I must say, is pretty uniformly positive — players remain wary. Nate Bihldorff, another member of the development team, acknowledged the lack of Hall Effect technology: “Well, the Joy-Con 2’s controllers have been designed from the ground up. They’re not Hall Effect sticks, but they feel really good.” Plenty of players are understandably upset by the stick drift on older models. With future instability on the horizon, this issue has already cost Nintendo dearly in repairs and replacements.
Alongside the Joy-Con 2 controllers, Nintendo’s Pro Controller truly comes into its own with its discreet sticks. As to their quality and overall responsiveness, they’ve received unanimous, glowing approval from users. It’s still uncertain if Hall Effect sticks were used in the Pro Controller. Neither the specs ruled out their use.
Many players have raised the issue of long-term durability of the new Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller. This worry comes from the lack of Hall Effect sticks on either controller. Just like last session, the industry is watching closely. Many gamers have pointed to Hall Effect technology as the way forward in overcoming the stick drift plague that keeps afflicting controllers. With the growing demand for reliable gaming peripherals, players hope that Nintendo will address these concerns in future updates or iterations of their controllers.