Nintendo fans, listen up! There’s big news about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s all about those controllers. Nintendo of America has officially announced that the next-gen Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers will not feature Hall effect sensors in their analog sticks. This announcement came straight from Nate Bihldorff, the Senior VP of Product Development & Publishing at Nintendo of America, during a chat with Nintendo Life. Although the sticks won’t have Hall effect sensors, Bihldorff assured everyone that durability remains a top priority.
“We’ve reimagined the Joy-Con 2 controllers from scratch,” Bihldorff shared. “Sure, they’re not using Hall effect sticks, but the feel is top-notch. Every piece of hardware we produce aims to offer the best experience — from the responsiveness of the Joy-Cons to their endurance.”
If you remember, the original Nintendo Switch had to deal with a pesky problem called stick drift, where the analog sticks would move just slightly on their own. This issue resulted in several class-action lawsuits and led Nintendo to roll out free replacement programs to address frustrated consumers.
Now, you might be wondering, what exactly are Hall effect sticks? These use a modern way of detecting joystick movements compared to the old-school potentiometers. Traditional sticks work by shifting voltage with contact pads, while Hall effect switches employ magnets. As contact pads wear down, the risk of stick drift goes up. While many third-party controllers and even some PC keyboards have embraced Hall effect technology, Nintendo’s decision to skip it leaves fans scratching their heads.
Still, Bihldorff emphasizes that achieving better durability was a significant focus. This sentiment was echoed in a recent developer discussion, where Nintendo’s product leads for the Switch 2 weighed in. Kouichi Kawamoto, the producer of the Switch 2, mentioned that although the Pro Controller closely resembles its predecessor, it has been completely rebuilt.
Tetsuya Sasaki, who heads up hardware development, chimed in about Nintendo’s bold vision for creating the ultimate controller. They’ve been on this journey for a while, and while Sasaki didn’t confirm if they’ve nailed it with the Switch 2, he did highlight the pride the team takes in their new “smooth-gliding switches.”
As for whether Nintendo has effectively tackled stick drift in the Switch 2, only time will tell. Given that stick drift tended to surface as early as six months into the initial Joy-Cons’ lifecycle, the first real test for the new controllers will be around 2026. Stay tuned for more insights and updates on the Switch 2, including exciting features like DLSS and ray tracing. Keep following us for the latest!
