Welp with my Pro controller drifting, it has killed all the joy of buying and playing Switch games

[Ehoavash]

Back when my regular joycons started drifting while I was mad, I sent them to nintendo to get them fixed. It came back working but only for a month then started to drift again to at that point I said fuck it and bought a Switch Pro controller for $70 and thought I don't ever have to look back...., it lasted me a good year and half but now the left stick drifts and basically made playing any games unplayable for me And I've just had it with Nintendo's quality control on the switch. It sucks cause I want to play more smash online, check out new games like Hades on the system but these controllers keep drifting and putting barriers when I want to play and it suckssssss so much

Does nintendo even fix Pro controllers if you send them to them?

Anyway I never had drifting in any controllers from the past, and it's killing my interest to even buy games on the switch anymore cause I know these controllers are going to drift and I don't want to spend more money on controllers (especially considering how expensive Nintendo's controllers are already )

 

[PancakeFlip]

I think my Xenoblade one is starting to drift, have to make sure.

 

[ParanormalFupa]

I thought it was a dust issue rather than anything physically wrong with the components. I bought like a $5 can of that electronic contact spray and it fixed my problems. I assumed sending it back would be a waste of time since they would just return me a joycon that was still susceptible to the exact same thing since there is nothing to fix.

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

I thought it was a dust issue rather than anything physically wrong with the components. I bought like a $5 can of that electronic contact spray and it fixed my problems. I assumed sending it back would be a waste of time since they would just return me a joycon that was still susceptible to the exact same thing since there is nothing to fix.

Click to shrink...

Link to that spray?

 

[Kouriozan]

Damn I didn't know the Pro could drift, I've been using my Switch with it 90% of the time since launch day, I'm getting worried it'll start to break down soon.

 

[Ehoavash]

I thought it was a dust issue rather than anything physically wrong with the components. I bought like a $5 can of that electronic contact spray and it fixed my problems. I assumed sending it back would just return me a joycon that was still susceptible to the exact same thing since there is nothing to fix.

Click to shrink...

I tried the electronic contact spray and no dice with the Pro, still drifts. It did work with my regular joycons but for like 4 days ...

 

[ParanormalFupa]

Link to that spray?

Click to shrink...

Google shopping link looks like a 1pack is not available on prime currently but it's available elsewhere. It's essentially isopropyl alcohol that volatizes and dries after you spray it.

 

[ParanormalFupa]

I tried the electronic contact spray and no dice with the Pro, still drifts. It did work with my regular joycons but for like 4 days ...

Click to shrink...

It's going to be inconsistent. You are trying to clean out small dust particles. Lucky spray might do the trick, a soak might not. You might move it slightly where it ends back up under the sensor or you might clean it for good. Your pro problem might be a different problem idk.

 

[Vilifier]

3 of my 4 Pro Controllers drift; I'm sure my Smash Pro controller will drift soon enough. I've switched to using the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro controllers instead. Really wish the extended drift warranty for the Joy Cons also applied to the Pro Controllers.

 

[Deleted member 32135]

Damn I didn't know the Pro could drift, I've been using my Switch with it 90% of the time since launch day, I'm getting worried it'll start to break down soon.

Click to shrink...

Every controller can drift. Just joycons are way more suited to that.

 

[Martin]

Don't know what happened to this generation of sticks ... my PS4 controller also started drifting and my joy cons did too. My friends pro controller also has a slight drift ...
While my xbox 360 controller still has no drift

 

[giapel]

I'll be honest, since the N64 first introduced analog control, I've never had drift in anything except some PC flight stick. I don't even know what happened this gen...

 

[Spiderhead]

Not a single controller I've had in the past 10 years has had any drifting issues. I'm sorry for the fact that you've had to deal with it.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

That's why for the first time in my Nintendo console purchasing life, I play with a 3rd party controller. My 8BitDo SN30 Pro+ is a great buy. I've had 5 Joycons die on me. I wasn't going to be a fool and give Nintendo more of my money.

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

I'll be honest, since the N64 first introduced analog control, I've never had drift in anything except some PC flight stick. I don't even know what happened this gen...

Click to shrink...

I've always been one to keep my electronics in great condition, but this gen with each console's controller there have been issues.

For such an expensive hobby, this should not be the case.

Google shopping link looks like a 1pack is not available on prime currently but it's available elsewhere. It's essentially isopropyl alcohol that volatizes and dries after you spray it.

Click to shrink...

Thanks for the link. I'll look into it.

 

[iag]

My Wii U gamepad had the left stick drifting. Also both my joycons and pro controller (right stick). It sucks.

 

[Siggy-P]

This is why I bought a crappy third party controller.

 

[SeeingeyeDug]

Back when my regular joycons started drifting while I was mad, I sent them to nintendo to get them fixed. It came back working but only for a month then started to drift again to at that point I said fuck it and bought a Switch Pro controller for $70 and thought I don't ever have to look back...., it lasted me a good year and half but now the left stick drifts and basically made playing any games unplayable for me And I've just had it with Nintendo's quality control on the switch. It sucks cause I want to play more smash online, check out new games like Hades on the system but these controllers keep drifting and putting barriers when I want to play and it suckssssss so much

Does nintendo even fix Pro controllers if you send them to them?

Anyway I never had drifting in any controllers from the past, and it's killing my interest to even buy games on the switch anymore cause I know these controllers are going to drift and I don't want to spend more money on controllers (especially considering how expensive Nintendo's controllers are already )

Click to shrink...

Try pressing down on whatever stick is drifting. Like holding L3 for example and rotating it as far as you can push it 360 a few times. That usually gets my pro controller to stop drifting.

 

[Secretofmateria]

Their controllers are a fucking scam. I need to replace my joycons for the first time. Both my pro controllers are 3 years old, so i imagine its only a matter of time for them

 

[dr.rocktopus]

Had no idea Pro controllers drift, good to know.

Controllers cost more and have been utter shit quality-wise this gen.

 

[Dphex]

I never had joy with the Pro Controller considering the floaty sticks that grind on the plastic and accumulate white plastic dust as well as the horrible Dpad.

The Pro Controller is the same very cheap build quality as the Joycons, the only good aspect is the battery life.

Nintendo just dropped the ball controller wise.

 

[Dyle]

Pro controllers seem to be about on par with all other controllers this generation as far as drift goes but no doubt it sucks when it happens. Not sure why all sticks seem to have gotten worse compared to the predecessors

 

[Joedev]

Mine has drifted on and off. I've taken it apart so many times to fully clean it and that usually fixes it for a long time. If you look, whatever plastic is used around the stick is garbage and generates a ton of dust that eventually seems to get lodged somewhere internally that will cause a problem.

 

[Kongo B]

I've had 2 pairs of joycons drift and i've fixed them both with WD-40 specialist.

The pro controller is another beast entirely. I've had minor drifting that I've solved just by opening the controller and blowing compressed air in the sticks, but one of my pro controllers has a mechanical problem in the left stick (if you click it down and move it to the side, it gets stuck at the edge) that i have not been able to solve on my own.

I'm pretty mad at the joycons build quality but can't complain about the pro controller, since it started acting up after 1,5 years of daily abuse by a bunch of hardcore Smash players. Playing Smash annihilates controllers, i've made my peace with that.

Edit: one advice i'd give about the pro controller is to clean off that white dust that forms on the sticks with a toothbrush before it gets into the mechanical parts of the stick.

 

[Wispmetas]

I usually just blow on the damn analogue sticks for a while untill it stops.

The other day I tried this:


And it has been working quite well, had a minimal drift in one joycon that was always giving me a ton of problem.

 

[Alek]

In all fairness my PS4 and XBOX controllers all tend to drift within 1-2 years. Analog stick drift is fairly natural as the parts wear over time.

When I was working at a large studio, I would borrow controllers from the QA department (Switch, PS4, XBOX) and it would be hard to find one that didn't drift.

All controllers with moving parts will experience wear over time. Drift just tends to be the first thing you see because the analog sticks are almost always in motion, with a fair amount of pressure being applied from the player (especially if they're always playing games where you have to click the sticks in).

 

[Deleted member 9857]

it's why I only ever really play it anymore with my SN30 Pro+

 

[Aniki]

I use a third party controller for over a year now and no drift so far. Hope it stays that way.

 

[FrakEarth]

I know some people can't for whatever reason, but I'm just gonna reiterate my attitude on this -

if one of my controllers breaks, and it really shouldn't have broken, I give customer services shit until I get what I want. You paid good money, don't accept it.

I know lots of people have had varying experiences but thankfully Nintendo UK have been good for me... I sent one of my joycons back after filling in a Service Center form, it asked if I had proof of purchase, of course I didn't - but they repaired it for free and its been fine ever since.

NOA seem like they might be more dickish, but if I were you I wouldn't let it go.

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[fourfourfun]

Damn I didn't know the Pro could drift,

Click to shrink...

Pretty much all controllers do. The joycon is endemically weak to it though.

 

[MZZ]

Yeah, the left sticks of both my joycon and pro controller was damaged. Pro had a drift while joycon's L3 button was not pressable in addition to the drift. Really killed my enjoyment of my switch.

I bought the 3rd party non wireless joycon replacement with the better dpad shape. I think it's also getting some drift after a year.

Got an 8bitdo in EU SNES color and love it. Pretty much revived usage on my switch. Only caveat is the old school shape is not really grippy like a modern controller. I have really huge hands and the shape is silly for my hand. I might get a new pro controller or joycon. Just waiting for a big game I can enjoy it with.

 

[AstralTurfWarrior]

I don't really have a problem with it in the games themselves. At least in the games I've played, the drift somehow doesn't affect the control.

But damn it's annoying to try to buy a game from eshop or start a game when the drift constantly tries to push to right.

Certainly affects negatively on how much I want to use the system.

 

[Hummel003]

I have 3 pair of joycons and all my sets started drifting. Worst controllers ever. Luckily i was able to fix them all. Its quiet easy to do yourseld

 

[minimalism]

Not sure why it would kill your joy when you could just open it up and replace the sticks for like 15 bucks and a half hour of your time. All sticks will eventually drift no matter what, though the Joycons do wear faster than most others.