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Totilo: Nintendo claim to have improved Joy-Cons for the OLED Switch

Bullet Club

Member





Another major characteristic of Nintendo Switch is the Joy-Con controllers. A big part of the user experience comes from the Joy-Con, but were there any improvements?

Yamashita:
Joy-Con controllers have lots of different features, so we’ve been continuing to make improvements that may not always be visible. Among others, the analog-stick parts have continuously been improved since launch, and we are still working on improvements.

The analog stick at first release cleared the Nintendo reliability test using the method of rotating the stick while continually applying a load to it, with the same criteria as the Wii U GamePad’s analog stick.

As we have always been trying to improve it as well, we have investigated the Joy-Con controllers used by the customers and repeatedly improved the wear resistance and durability.

The parts of the Joy-Con analog sticks are not something that can be bought off the shelf but are specially designed, so we have undergone a lot of considerations to improve them. In addition, we improved the reliability test itself, and we have continued to make changes to improve durability and clear this new test.

When the effects of our improvements were confirmed, we promptly incorporated them into the Joy-Con controllers that are included with the console, Nintendo Switch Lite, and the ones sold individually, that were manufactured at that time. This involves the internal components of the Joy-Con, so you can’t tell the improvements from the outside, but we use the new versions of the parts when we repair them. Also, similar continual improvements have been made for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller as well.

Do you mean that, basically, wear is unavoidable as long as the parts are physically in contact?

Shiota:
Yes, for example car tires wear out as the car moves, as they are in constant friction with the ground to rotate. So with that same premise, we asked ourselves how we can improve durability, and not only that, but how can both operability and durability coexist? It’s something we are continuously tackling.

Yamashita: The degree of wear depends on factors like the combination of the materials and forms, so we continue to make improvements by researching which combinations are less likely to wear. We mentioned that the Joy-Con controller specifications hadn’t changed in the sense that we didn’t add new features such as new buttons, but the analog sticks in the Joy-Con controllers included with Nintendo Switch – OLED Model are the latest version with all the improvements. Needless to say, so are the analog sticks included in Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, separately sold Joy-Con controllers, and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that are currently being shipped.

 

tusharngf

Member
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Marty-McFly

Banned
It's not the Joycons, it's the track pad that holds them in place.

It was already covered on hardware breakdowns.

That's the end of the Joycon problems.
 
"we have investigated the Joy-Con controllers used by the customers and repeatedly improved the wear resistance and durability." "In addition, we improved the reliability test itself, and we have continued to make changes to improve durability and clear this new test."

But it only just come out this weekend. drift kicks in after about 6-12 months of usage? Sounds like clout chasing for clicks.
 
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not once have i had drift on any nintendo joycon. my day 1 console no drifting. had various other pairs of joycons and no drifting. so you're telling me they've even better now? great!

only controllers i've had drifting on are the xb1 and ps4 controllers. never switch
 

BlackTron

Member
They're silent for years while the problem persists and only clarify its been "fixed" the moment they release a new console they'd like you to upgrade to. Call me cynical.

I was ready to call BS that only the new model came with fixed joycons. But he clarifies that the fix applies to all systems and controllers being shipped, without specifying when exactly the fix took place.

It appears to me that this fix was already in effect, however, you can be 100% sure that the OLED has the latest fix because it's new.

The fact that they have made changes has been verified by teardowns that show 3 different designs, meaning this doesn't seem to be BS. It would be nice to know WHEN the changes happened though, so if you want to get a pair of replacement joycons you aren't going in blind.

I think if you get current inventory from a store though you're pretty safe. I don't think Joycons are like WiiU Pro Controllers that could sit in Best Buy for a year.

Bizarrely enough, the pair that came with my Nov 2017 Switch are still fine.
 
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Fake

Member
They're silent for years while the problem persists and only clarify its been "fixed" the moment they release a new console they'd like you to upgrade to. Call me cynical.


'IF' is really fixed. Just tests, not words, will prove.
 

Business

Member
There was definitely room for improvement... had to fix the drift on my joycons a while ago and recently again I had to fix the problem where in handheld mode, joycons can get off the console without pressing the release button on the back. I don't think I ever owned a controller with so many issues.
 

nikos

Member
Totilo should have read the next sentence, which is just as important:

Joy-Con controllers included with Nintendo Switch – OLED Model are the latest version with all the improvements. Needless to say, so are the analog sticks included in Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, separately sold Joy-Con controllers, and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that are currently being shipped.

These may be further improved, but it’s very likely they’re the same as the ones currently shipping and we don't know the last time those were improved.

Still good to know they're being improved. The only one I had trouble with was a launch day Joy-Con after three years of use.
 
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Notabueno

Banned
So we had to rely on a youtube teenage to fix the problem with the spacer so that Nintendo could be bother (at least) to fix it?
 

kiphalfton

Member
not once have i had drift on any nintendo joycon. my day 1 console no drifting. had various other pairs of joycons and no drifting. so you're telling me they've even better now? great!

only controllers i've had drifting on are the xb1 and ps4 controllers. never switch

Me either.

*Proceed to eave out part about never using Switch/Joy Cons*
 
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