Switch 2 Joy-Cons Skip Hall Effect Tech, Drift Concerns Resurface
Following the recent Switch 2 presentation, Nintendo has begun opening up about its next-generation hardware—though not everyone will be thrilled with one of the latest confirmations. In a discussion with Nintendo Life, Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development and publishing at Nintendo of America, confirmed that the Switch 2 new Joy-Con controllers for the upcoming console will not include Hall Effect joysticks.
Leading up to this Switch 2 announcement, the Switch community had been actively speculating about potential improvements to the console’s infamous Joy-Cons. Chief among the hoped-for changes was the inclusion of Hall Effect sensors, known for their reliability and resistance to drift—a problem that plagued the original Joy-Cons and led to widespread criticism and free repair schemes.
According to Bihldorff, while the Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 has been designed from the ground up, it won’t be incorporating Hall Effect technology. He explained, “They’re not Hall Effect sticks, but they feel really good. Did you experience both the Joy-Con and the Pro Controller?” After being assured the interviewer had, he added, “That Pro Controller, for some reason the first time I grabbed it, I was like, ‘this feels like a GameCube controller.’ Something about it felt so familiar, but the stick on that especially. I tried to spend a lot of time making sure that it was quiet… it really is one of the quietest controllers I’ve ever played.”
While Nintendo remains tight-lipped about the technical details of its updated stick design, it’s clear that durability and tactile feel were top priorities. However, the omission of Hall Effect sensors may come as a letdown to those hoping for a definitive end to the infamous stick drift issues.
That said, independent teardowns once the console hits the market will likely give us a closer look at what’s really under the hood. For now, those wanting a more drift-proof solution might still lean toward third-party options that offer Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) or Hall Effect technology.
