Nintendo Switch 2 Could Leave Joy-Con Drift Behind, Patent Application Hints

Details on a brand new Nintendo patent software for a controller with magnetic analog sticks have surfaced, suggesting that the corporate’s subsequent peripheral will not suffer–possibly on a Switch 2–from the notorious drift problems with the Nintendo Switch period.

Spotted by online game accessibility marketing consultant Laura Kate Dale, Nintendo initially filed for a patent in May, and the application was published on September 7. “No ensures, but when that is for Switch 2, this could finish analog stick drift points subsequent gen,” Dale tweeted.

Better referred to as a Hall Effect joystick, these have a small magnet connected to them and sensors that measure the voltage generated by the magnetic discipline. Typically, Hall Effect joysticks are extra sturdy and have an extended lifespan than conventional joysticks, which use potentiometers, because the contacts finally put on out on these joysticks and trigger the voltage readings to vary, creating joystick drift. It’s price noting that Hall Effect joysticks can put on out over time as nicely, though they sometimes have a for much longer lifespan as compared.

Joy-Con drift has been a significant situation for the Switch ever because the console was first launched. Numerous tales have popped up through the years of gamers affected by this situation, with one former worker of a restore middle tasked with fixing these controllers claiming that they had been overwhelmed with work. Nintendo initially despatched out new replacements to clients who mailed of their Joy-Cons between 2017 and 2018, and presently, Nintendo fixes defective Joy-Cons without spending a dime.

While Nintendo has confirmed that no new Switch {hardware} can be launched earlier than the top of its present monetary year–which ends on March 31, 2024–rumors have been circulating that tech demos for a Switch successor was proven off behind closed doorways at Gamescom. The Switch has bought 129.5 million units worldwide and 49 million across the Americas, and it seems to retire comfortably because the third-best-selling console of all time.