Nintendo isn’t using anti-drift Hall effect sensors on Switch 2 joysticks

But Nintendo promises "redesigned" Joy-Cons are "smoother" and "more reliable."

Apr 7, 2025 - 17:37
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Nintendo isn’t using anti-drift Hall effect sensors on Switch 2 joysticks

After dealing with years of widespread reports of "stick drift" on the original Switch Joy-Cons, Nintendo watchers have been hoping the Switch 2 would make use of magnetic Hall effect sensors that avoid most of the physical wear and tear that causes the problem. Now, though, a Nintendo executive has confirmed that the Joy-Cons on the new console won't make use of the more reliable but more expensive technology.

"Well, the Joy-Con 2's controllers have been designed from the ground up," Nintendo of America Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing Nate Bihldorff told enthusiast site Nintendo Life in a recent interview. "They're not Hall effect sticks, but they feel really good."

The confirmation comes after Nintendo pointedly refused to offer details about the Switch 2's joystick hardware at a roundtable Q&A session attended by Ars last week. When a reporter asked whether stick drift "is the sort of thing that has been improved with the Joy-Con 2 and the Pro Controller 2 as well," Switch 2 Technical Director Tetsuya Sasaki responded (via a translator) that the "new Joy-Con 2 controllers have been designed from the ground up from scratch to have bigger movement, and also a lot smoother movement."

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