The Nintendo Switch initially impressed the gaming community when it was first unveiled back in 2017. Part handheld, part home system, the new console gave fans the ability to take some of their favorite Nintendo titles with them wherever they went. However, since the Switch's release, some gamers have realized that after hours of extended play, there is a major hardware problem with the console. Specifically, the problem resides within the Nintendo Switch's controllers, and is known to many as Joy-Con drift.
Joy-Con drift has been compared to the wear and tear of a car tire by Nintendo. As gamers spend hours on their Switch fighting Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild or ending friendships with a blue shell in Mario Kart, eventually they will cause Joy-Con drift, which is when the analogue sticks will act as if they are moving without player input. This can be incredibly frustrating when it becomes a major issue, as players will feel as though the control of their game is out of their hands.
While the latest OLED Switch allegedly prevents Joy-Con drift to an extent, the problem is becoming more prevalent among the users of Nintendo's newest console. According to UK consumer group Which?, 40 percent of Nintendo Switch users report that they have experienced issues with Joy-Con drift. However, out of the numerous customers that have experienced a fault with their Joy-Cons, only 73 percent actually spoke to Nintendo about it.
Which? found the latter of these statistics to be especially concerning, as it meant that consumers can "be left footing the bill themselves to replace faulty controllers." They then urged Nintendo to investigate the issue properly, in order to find out the cause of Joy-Con drift and hopefully prevent it. If not, then the group would at least hope to see Nintendo release its findings to the public. It is unknown whether Nintendo will listen to these suggestions, but it is likely the company is working on a fix for the Switch's hardware issues.
It is likely that Nintendo is working on eliminating the problem of Joy-Con drifts due to the fact that it is facing increasing pressure to look into the issue. There have even been court cases made over unhappy customers who have experienced Joy-Con drift, such as one recent lawsuit against Nintendo that may begin again with children as plaintiffs. Even if Nintendo manages to evade future lawsuits, if Joy-Con drift persists it will continue to leave a bad impression on the gaming giant and the Switch.