I don't know how it is in Europe, but in North America, their repair service is top-notch.<p>2 months ago I sent them a joycon of my 5 year old switch because it started to drift.<p>I simply filed a form on their website and dropped the joycon at a UPS store. Two weeks later, I received a new joycon by mail. I didn't pay for anything, not even UPS shipping.
They should. We have 6 different joycons and 2 have been repaired, the other 2 are showing the damn drift again.<p>Shipping them is a pain. This whole thing is a mess and the fact that they have to repair is the minimum<p>Joycons happen to also cost 100$ in Canada, so it's not something cheap.<p>I'm really bothered. So many years making videogames and they still can't get the analog stick right.
Very cool post by, uh, the European Commission. Yay casual-tone governance.<p>Does anyone have a link to some reputable third-party explaining the actual issue?
Virtually all controllers share similar technology and one of the features for most of the console manufacturers is that they will break the moment a piece of lint gets stuck between the stick and the sensor. Given how difficult it is to access the sensor in order to fix the issue, and also how open-air the design of these sticks are, I've always assumed that this is on purpose.<p>I've started using the Power A controllers with the back paddles on PC (or a Razer Wolverine when I was being fancy and wanted LEDs), and I'm much happier now. The only problem I've had with Power A's controllers is that the USB cable has a plastic housing that is a bit oddly shaped and thus it's nigh-impossible to find a replacement, so I'm still stuck with a scenario that I have to RMA a replacement from time to time because they won't sell the cord by itself.
The entire controller industry has this problem. From the base to the top end, controllers fail like crazy due to "stick drift." It's planned obsolescence.
Be nice if they did the same for Sony PS5 controllers, I've had two go on me (in a different way each) and god knows the PS5 isn't out all that long.
I know many will want this covered by Nintendo out of principle, but it is a very easy fix to perform yourself for the average hacker. The parts and tools are inexpensive as well. I have replaced 5 joycon sticks now and I find it rather satisfying.
Hall effect joysticks seem really promising. Fundamentally, due to the way they work, they should be much less likely to develop drift compared to potentiometer-based joysticks.