It's been more than two years since Nintendo wowed the gaming community with the release of its hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, the last few months have proved to be a turbulent time for the console, as reports have revealed that more and more players are experiencing the dreaded Joy-Con drift.
For the uninitiated, Joy-Con drift is an issue where the Switch controller's analog sticks will send commands without any physical input from the player. This isn't the first time that the Switch has had controller problems, and it hasn't helped that Nintendo has remained silent in the face of complaints about these issues. However, the company has now made a statement, explaining that it is aware of the on-going problem and encouraging customers to visit Nintendo's support site for help:
At Nintendo, we take great pride in creating quality products and we are continuously making improvements to them. We are aware of recent reports that some Joy-Con controllers are not responding correctly. We want our consumers to have fun with Nintendo Switch, and if anything falls short of this goal we always encourage them to visit http://support.nintendo.com so we can help.
Unfortunately, Nintendo's statement doesn't expand on why some players are experiencing Joy-Con drift, but its support website will allow players to start the process of having their Joy-Cons repaired for a fee, unless, of course, their device is still covered by warranty. At the moment, it is still unclear whether the issue is caused by the aging of some units, defective parts that may have slipped past quality control, or normal wear and tear.
If the Joy-Con drift is caused by the ability to remove the console's controllers, which may allow for debris to enter the device, then it is safe to say that the upcoming Switch Lite, which will feature built-in Joy-Cons, will not be affected by the problem. However, if defective parts are to blame, then the situation could be far worse for Nintendo's reputation, and it may affect future sales of its upcoming console.
Apart from theories and speculations, no one can be exactly certain as to what is causing the growing problem on the Nintendo Switch. Hopefully, Nintendo will release a more detailed statement that explains, in detail, the specific reason why Joy-Con drift is happening, how to prevent it, and whether it will affect the Switch's upcoming versions.
Source: The Verge