Joy-Con drift

[rdrunner | 444]

This may be paranoid and also perhaps missing the point of having a Switch, but my solution so far has been to just get a cheap knockoff pro controller and avoid using the joy cons altogether, at least the sticks.  They're brand new and the knockoff may drift someday anyway, but at least I'm not out $70-80 when it does.

It also helps that I'm not all that interested in handheld mode.  I realize I'm in the minority on that though.

[B.A. | 1,141]

I just play with the pro controller now. All the sticks I have replaced are bad again. I'll probably send a batch of them into nintendo. I guess it doesn't matter if it takes a month since I'm not using them at all.

[RegularGuyGamer | 2,042]

It blows my mind that do many joycons have this issue. I've had my launch pair, w pair of green and a pair of yellow and none of them have shown a single sign of drift. And that if with easily over 500 hrs split between them all

[B.A. | 1,141]

Some that I replaced only lasted a couple of weeks before being junk again. That could be because the sticks were cheap aftermarket ones, but who knows.

[zeppelin03 | 314]

2 hours ago, Makar said:

Dang that's a long wait. Do you have a link for how to go about doing that repair service?

Edit: NVM I found it. Here it is for others

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/ask/ht/293/cp/677/mq/740https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/ask/ht/789

We bought them when they came out for a trip to Japan not long after.  I was not happy to have a brand new console already have drift.  Thankfully it returned to me under estimate but that was after a number of phonecalls.

After that experience I have little confidence in the lite's long term viability.  I've considered selling mine on a number of occasions since it just doesn't get used.

[Makar | 2,062]

24 minutes ago, zeppelin03 said:

We bought them when they came out for a trip to Japan not long after.  I was not happy to have a brand new console already have drift.  Thankfully it returned to me under estimate but that was after a number of phonecalls.

After that experience I have little confidence in the lite's long term viability.  I've considered selling mine on a number of occasions since it just doesn't get used.

That sucks. Mine are the special edition Mario Odyssey red joycons and the left joystick drifts all the time even after recalibrating it. I would just replace it if these weren't so expensive but I fear the same problem would still happen down the road. So I'll probably go through Nintendo and see what happens.

[Makar | 2,062]

Just submitted my joycon ticket with Nintendo. I will keep you guys posted.

[zeppelin03 | 314]

2 hours ago, Makar said:

That sucks. Mine are the special edition Mario Odyssey red joycons and the left joystick drifts all the time even after recalibrating it. I would just replace it if these weren't so expensive but I fear the same problem would still happen down the road. So I'll probably go through Nintendo and see what happens.

We have a set of the US and Japanese Splatoon Joycons.   Not willing to let those ones go either.  They will get many replacements throughout their lifetime.  I plan to stock up on extras sticks while replacement parts are cheap. 

 

Good the RMA process is going smoothly so far.

Edited August 9, 2020 by zeppelin03

[Space Jockey | 20]

On 8/9/2020 at 4:10 AM, Makar said:

Dang that's a long wait. Do you have a link for how to go about doing that repair service?

Edit: NVM I found it. Here it is for others

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/ask/ht/293/cp/677/mq/740https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/ask/ht/789

Thank you, just submitted my support ticket on 4 joy-cons with drifting issues.  I have a good working third set, so I'm sure they will last until Nintendo gets around to my turn.

[JamesRobot | 6,026]

Thanks @Tanooki and @Aguy.  My Switch is portable again! 

I ordered the replacement joysticks from Amazon.  Shipped in a day and my joycons were up and running within 10 minutes.  Pretty damn easy other than the fact that all of the parts are so damn tiny.

[CodysGameRoom | 2,013]

My girlfriend's kid drops her Switch constantly and the JoyCons are FUBAR'd. Just sent them to Nintendo so we shall see.

[Tanooki | 5,113]

12 minutes ago, JamesRobot said:

Thanks @Tanooki and @Aguy.  My Switch is portable again! 

I ordered the replacement joysticks from Amazon.  Shipped in a day and my joycons were up and running within 10 minutes.  Pretty damn easy other than the fact that all of the parts are so damn tiny.

I knew it could be easily handled.  I've torn down my pair before as they mysteriously got cracked in the rear and it bugged me so I bought a new OEM pair.  As long as you're semi-steady, have some tiny screw drivers and a nice tweezer it's as you said, a 10min job.  I know it's not free or warrantied, but it is IDEAL considering the solution happens in days, not 10+ days or more and potentially with crappy refurbs since there is no promise of new replacements.  I don't trust NOA after they bricked my WiiU years ago when I had it, sent me back a scuffed to hell black console when mine was spotless.

[Aguy | 782]

1 hour ago, JamesRobot said:

Thanks @Tanooki and @Aguy.  My Switch is portable again! 

I ordered the replacement joysticks from Amazon.  Shipped in a day and my joycons were up and running within 10 minutes.  Pretty damn easy other than the fact that all of the parts are so damn tiny.

Glad to hear it. After a couple days of use, mine have settled in and have been perfect since. 

[Kguillemette | 1,606]

Just ordered my third set of joycons. Getting that extended warrantee with joycons is absolutely crucial. 

[zeppelin03 | 314]

20 minutes ago, Kguillemette said:

Just ordered my third set of joycons. Getting that extended warrantee with joycons is absolutely crucial. 

Who are you buying through for the warranty? I normal don't bother with those but Joycons seem gauranteed to break.

[Kguillemette | 1,606]

12 minutes ago, zeppelin03 said:

Who are you buying through for the warranty? I normal don't bother with those but Joycons seem gauranteed to break.

Walmart/square trade. It was pretty painless getting my warranty filled. I filled the online form out and they gave me the option of a $60 Wal-Mart gift card to just settle it. I can just sell the broken joy con on ebay to make the difference up, so it was really no sweat. Gonna get the purple and orange colors this time!

Edited August 18, 2020 by Kguillemette
Spelling

[Tanooki | 5,113]

2 hours ago, Kguillemette said:

Walmart/square trade. It was pretty painless getting my warranty filled. I filled the online form out and they gave me the option of a $60 Wal-Mart gift card to just settle it. I can just sell the broken joy con on ebay to make the difference up, so it was really no sweat. Gonna get the purple and orange colors this time!

Nice move, what were you thinking you'd get value wise out of a busted joycon anyway?  I wouldn't imagine they'd go too cheap as replacement sticks aren't bad, but I imagine the work could be intimidating due to the tiny parts.

[Kguillemette | 1,606]

3 minutes ago, Tanooki said:

Nice move, what were you thinking you'd get value wise out of a busted joycon anyway?  I wouldn't imagine they'd go too cheap as replacement sticks aren't bad, but I imagine the work could be intimidating due to the tiny parts.

Broken joy cons sell for about $20 believe it or not pretty regularly. Lots of people trying to spruce them up it seems.

[Tanooki | 5,113]

38 minutes ago, Kguillemette said:

Broken joy cons sell for about $20 believe it or not pretty regularly. Lots of people trying to spruce them up it seems.

That's not bad, I could see some use in that at least if someone had a pair as the joystick replacement is cheap and easy.

[cartman | 195]

Nintendo knew this shit all along how could they have not? They did some calculating weighing in different factors and by the time people started complaining they would've already have sold enough units if the console was gonna be successfull and if it wasn't well then it wouldn't have mattered anyway. They figured they could always relegate people to the customer support department and release a standard company public statement like "it has come to our attention that some customers have been experiencing..." or some shit like that but it's all calculated. Like a casino trying to gouge every penny out of you even if you're an abuser not that Nintendo's product is comparable but the scrupulous mindset is the same. They release benign friendly Miyamoto to serve as the compnies face but beneath the surface they're just another Yakuza branch.

[Andy_Bogomil | 861]

On 8/9/2020 at 2:02 PM, Makar said:

That sucks. Mine are the special edition Mario Odyssey red joycons and the left joystick drifts all the time even after recalibrating it. I would just replace it if these weren't so expensive but I fear the same problem would still happen down the road. So I'll probably go through Nintendo and see what happens.

I have the same ones and the left one started drifting pretty much as soon as I beat Mario (2-3 weeks). Now it drifts really bad. I bought a 2nd set of neon ones and the left drifted within a week of relatively light use so I returned them. I just use a 3rd party, usb controller now but it makes the portable mode pretty annoying when going through menus etc. since you have to use the joycons. I take really good care of my stuff (clean, stored properly, no kids, etc.) and I very rarely have problems with any controllers. Some of my PS3 and 4 controllers have become a little mushy over the course of a year or so but they are being used heavily with L3 and R3 with online shooters and they still don't drift as bad or at all. Might get another set down the road or try to open up the red joycon... dunno.

[Makar | 2,062]

2 hours ago, Andy_Bogomil said:

I have the same ones and the left one started drifting pretty much as soon as I beat Mario (2-3 weeks). Now it drifts really bad. I bought a 2nd set of neon ones and the left drifted within a week of relatively light use so I returned them. I just use a 3rd party, usb controller now but it makes the portable mode pretty annoying when going through menus etc. since you have to use the joycons. I take really good care of my stuff (clean, stored properly, no kids, etc.) and I very rarely have problems with any controllers. Some of my PS3 and 4 controllers have become a little mushy over the course of a year or so but they are being used heavily with L3 and R3 with online shooters and they still don't drift as bad or at all. Might get another set down the road or try to open up the red joycon... dunno.

How are they designed so poorly? This is an issue probably millions of people are experiencing or will experience at some point. They had to have known about this during the testing phase right??

[Kguillemette | 1,606]

18 hours ago, Makar said:

How are they designed so poorly? This is an issue probably millions of people are experiencing or will experience at some point. They had to have known about this during the testing phase right??

You got me! I've never been compelled to get the extended warranty on anything before this. Joy cons are the very first electronic I've actually wanted that has a very real expiration date! Getting 2 years of regular use is unrealistic out of these.

 

Has there been reports of similar problems with the lite?

[Blitus | 24]

Update: Earlier I posted about how contact cleaner fixed everything and made me feel all warm and cozy, but just like the Guarantee Fairy eventually money starts to go missing and your daughter is knocked up.  After a year of using contact cleaner weekly, it just doesn't work anymore.  I broke down and bought a new set.  I abhor extended warranties, but I happily paid 7 dollars for the 2 year warranty at Walmart on these pieces of shit.

[Sir Centroid | 79]

I guess that saying "that really sucks" would be a huge understatement.  I guess that I'll be waiting for a remodel of the Switch Lite before diving into any Switch games anytime soon. Assuming a remodel even ever happens.