Nintendo of America has announced that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will not feature Hall effect sensors in the analog sticks of its Joy-Cons or Pro Controllers. This decision was confirmed by Nate Bihldorff, who heads Product Development & Publishing at Nintendo of America, during a chat with Nintendo Life. He emphasized that, despite not using Hall effect sensors, the new console’s analog sticks are crafted with durability as a priority.
“The Joy-Con 2 controllers have been designed from scratch,” Bihldorff explained. “They may not use Hall effect technology, but they’re incredibly satisfying to use. Every time Nintendo rolls out new hardware, the goal is to provide an outstanding experience for our gamers, whether that’s through the immediate performance of the Joy-Cons or their long-term durability.”
The original Nintendo Switch has long been plagued by the infamous stick drift issue, where analog sticks would randomly veer in unintended directions even when untouched. As a result, Nintendo faced several class-action lawsuits during the Switch’s lifespan. Both heads of Nintendo and Nintendo of America publicly apologized for these frustrations and initiated free analog-stick replacements.
The “Hall effect” technology offers a modern method of tracking joystick movements compared to the older potentiometers. Standard analog sticks use a wiper that rubs against contact pads, altering voltage based on stick position. In contrast, Hall effect sticks rely on magnets to sense motion. Over time, potentiometer sticks risk wear and tear, potentially leading to drift, making Nintendo’s choice to bypass this proven tech a bit perplexing.
However, Bihldorff assured that the company focused heavily on durability while creating the new controllers. A recent developer roundtable emphasized this, with Switch 2’s lead producer, Kouichi Kawamoto, noting that while the new Pro Controller may resemble its predecessor, it has been completely revamped.
Hardware leader Tetsuya Sasaki further revealed Nintendo’s ongoing efforts toward achieving the ultimate controller design. “There’s a long-standing project at Nintendo aimed at developing the perfect controller,” Sasaki said. While he didn’t confirm if the Switch 2 has achieved this vision, the development of “smooth-gliding switches” certainly stands as a testament to their endeavors.
Whether Nintendo has successfully tackled early stick drift issues in the Switch 2 remains to be seen. Given that drift problems have arisen in Joy-Cons as soon as six months after use, enthusiasts will keep a close eye on potential issues, especially if Hall effect technology remains unused. For more insights on Nintendo’s new hardware, including its DLSS and ray-tracing capabilities, stay tuned to our comprehensive Switch 2 coverage.
