The Nintendo Switch 2 remains susceptible to the same major annoyance of the original version.

      Nintendo has stated that the Switch 2 will not incorporate Hall Effect sensors in its Joy-Cons, which regrettably means it remains susceptible to stick drift. Instead, the handheld will utilize analog-style sticks, but Nintendo reassures fans that these have been redesigned to address one of the significant issues of the original Nintendo Switch.

      In a discussion with Nintendo Life, Nate Bihldorff, the Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing for Nintendo of America, shared insights on what to expect from the upcoming console. “The Joy-Con 2’s controllers have been completely reimagined. They aren't Hall Effect sticks, but they feel great,” he mentioned.

      For those who might not know, Hall Effect sticks use magnetic fields to detect motion rather than relying on physical contact. This design makes them substantially more resilient and nearly immune to issues like stick drift, unlike the potentiometers found in conventional joysticks. Over time, as the potentiometer wears down, it can produce inaccurate readings for the console, resulting in problems like stick drift and delayed responses.

      Bihldorff highlighted the quality of construction in the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons. “Each time we release new hardware, whether it’s a new system or an accessory, [Nintendo] designs it from scratch to provide the best possible experience for our consumers, whether that’s the immediate response of the Joy-Cons you’re using, how they interact with the game, or their durability. We take it back to the drawing board to ensure we deliver the best experience,” he explained.

      He also mentioned to Nintendo Life that the Switch 2 Pro Controller has a slightly different feel and that he deliberately aimed to replicate the sensation of the GameCube’s analog stick. “I was a GameCube fan. There was something about it that felt very familiar, particularly the stick,” he noted. “I focused on making sure it was quiet. I don’t know if you’ve tried really banging the stick around, but it really is [quiet]. I’m reminiscing about my days with Smash Bros., where you really had to hit it. [The Switch 2 Pro Controller] is among the quietest controllers I’ve ever used.”

      As with many other features of the Switch 2, Nintendo has not specified the exact technology used in the new Joy-Cons. However, the company has indicated that it placed a greater focus on improving the sticks this time. In a recent Ask the Developer session, Nintendo producer Kouichi Kawamoto mentioned, “We designed everything from scratch for Joy-Con 2… the control sticks are larger and more durable, offering smoother movement.”

      The expectation for no stick drift is rooted in this enhanced durability. It’s important to note that Nintendo is not the only company that has faced issues with faulty analog sticks; the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller has also received complaints. Nonetheless, the Nintendo Switch has become well-known for stick drift over its lifespan, and we can only hope that Nintendo has taken lessons from past experiences to ensure the smoothest control possible.