Nintendo has officially announced an important detail about their much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. The updated console won’t incorporate Hall effect sensors for the analog sticks in its revamped Joy-Cons or Pro Controllers. Nate Bihldorff, who serves as the Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing at Nintendo of America, shared this information in a chat with Nintendo Life. Despite the absence of Hall effect sensors, he reassured fans that the analog sticks have been crafted to ensure lasting durability.
Bihldorff explained, “We’ve given the Joy-Con 2 controllers a complete redesign. No, they aren’t Hall Effect sticks, but they provide a satisfying gameplay experience.” He emphasized that with each new piece of hardware, Nintendo aims to deliver the best possible experience, taking into account everything from how the Joy-Cons interact with games to their longevity.
The original Nintendo Switch had a notorious reputation for stick drift, an issue where the analog sticks would move on their own. This led to various class-action lawsuits, prompting Nintendo’s top brass to express regret and offer programs to replace the faulty parts at no cost.
Hall effect sticks offer a more advanced way to track joystick movements compared to the older potentiometer technology. While traditional sticks rely on physical contact between components, leading to wear and tear over time, Hall effect sticks use magnets, making them more resistant to drift. This has made them a popular choice for third-party controllers and even some PC accessories. Nintendo’s decision to stick with the old tech might leave some scratching their heads.
Bihldorff was quick to mention that ensuring the durability of the Switch 2’s controllers was a top priority. In a recent roundtable with Nintendo’s product development team, Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto highlighted that although the Pro Controller for Switch 2 might look similar to its predecessor, it too received a redesign from the ground up.
Adding to the discussion, hardware lead Tetsuya Sasaki revealed that Nintendo has an ongoing project aimed at creating the “ultimate controller.” While Sasaki didn’t confirm if they’ve hit this target with the Switch 2, he did show enthusiasm about the new “smooth-gliding switches,” a feature Nintendo’s engineers are particularly proud of.
The real test will be whether Nintendo has finally cracked the code to prevent early stick drift with the Switch 2. Given that some Joy-Cons showed signs within the first six months, it’ll be interesting to see if the same complaints arise by 2026 without adopting Hall effect technology. To keep up-to-date with everything Nintendo has shared about their cutting-edge hardware, such as DLSS and ray tracing capabilities, check out our ongoing coverage.
