Although Nintendo Switch 2 has achieved many breakthroughs at the technical level, its improved version of the magnetic Joy-Con still fails to solve the joystick drift problem that plagued the previous generation. Just a few days after the launch of the new console, a number of accessory manufacturers have announced that they will launch anti-drift rocker solutions using Hall effect technology.
In response to iFixit’s tweet about Switch 2 joystick drift, accessory manufacturer GuliKit revealed: “We are working hard to develop a magnetic joystick replacement module, please stay tuned!” The company has previously achieved success on devices such as Steam Deck with its “patented anti-drift magnetic joystick” technology.
However, the transformation of Switch 2 faces special challenges: since the new handle rocker area has built-in strong magnets for host adsorption, simple replacement of components may cause magnetic field interference. Tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) technology may be the key to solving the problem - this solution has higher accuracy, lower power consumption, and can avoid the interference problem of the existing magnetic structure.
Some users have reported that some of the first Switch 2 models have serious drift and even malfunction right out of the box. Although there is a reasonable failure rate for new products on the market, the "history repeating itself" of joystick drift still disappoints players.