Joy-Con Drift is “Unavoidable” Even With OLED Model Improvements

The new Nintendo Switch OLED Model has arrived. Although it isn’t the much-desired Nintendo Switch Pro fans had been hoping for, the OLED Model provides a better kickstand, boosted battery life, and a bigger, higher definition screen. All of these shiny, new perks aside, one thing that isn’t seeing an upgrade is the infamous Joy-Con drift.

Joy-Con drift, for those unaware, is, unfortunately, a persistent condition found in many video game controllers. It occurs when the wear and tear of using an analog stick too much causes a “drift” effect, forcing the analog stick to move involuntarily in a certain direction even when it’s physically in the center. While the new OLED Model uses the same Joy-Cons as the standard Switch, Nintendo has confirmed that there are a few improvements implemented in the OLED’s, and future Joy-Con’s, design.

In a recent Nintendo published interview, Nintendo developers Ko Shiota and Toru Yamashita confirmed that while they have “undergone a lot of considerations to improve” their Joy-Cons, the problem of Joy-Con drift is “unavoidable.”

Shiota compares their Joy-Con drift dilemma to the durability of car tires: “…for example car tires wear out as the car moves, as they are in constant friction with the ground to rotate.” To that, Yamashita adds that their analog sticks containing the “latest version with all the improvements” are included in the OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and their latest Joy-Con controllers moving forward.

Nintendo’s Joy-Cons have notoriously deprived players of user-friendly accountability for years thanks to drift. Though Nintendo claims to be hard at work to improve their controllers, they know that, in their current state, drift will always be an issue. With such a prevalent issue, don’t let the fear of Joy-Con drift keep you from enjoying Nintendo’s plethora of gaming delights.

Nintendo’s OLED Model along with its Joy-Con drift might be disappointing, but Yamashita assures fans by stating that after Nintendo releases a new console, “…we immediately start thinking about the next one.” Whether a Nintendo Switch Pro is truly on the horizon or they crack the code and figure out how to eradicate controller drift, Nintendo will continue to work passionately to deliver their best gaming experience possible.

The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model is available now.