- It seems likely that the Nintendo Switch 2 controllers will have Hall effect components
- This is based on the claims of a leaker that we now know is reliable
- The technology can help eliminate Joy-Con operation
Hall-effect thumbsticks could be a real game-changer for the Nintendo Switch 2, with the magnetic technology potentially eliminating the dreaded Joy-Con drift that plagued the original console.
Many are wondering whether or not the upcoming system will include Hall-effect components, and while we don’t know for sure, it seems very likely. As noted by VGC, someone we now know to be a reliable leaker has stated that this will be the case.
A user going by the handle ‘NextHandheld’ posted an image purportedly showing the Nintendo Switch 2 way back in December. Many doubted its authenticity, but looking at it now with the benefit of hindsight, it’s hard not to conclude that it was the real deal.
We see the side of the console held horizontally, showing the new mechanism where the Joy-Con controllers attach. Everything perfectly matches the 3D rendering shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, suggesting that this leaker was indeed in possession of a real console.
As well as leaking the system’s color scheme – black, orange and blue – ‘NextHandheld’ has also hinted that it will have Hall effect thumbsticks based on an alleged “behind the scenes” teardown. This certainly seems plausible, as it would immediately help address one of the biggest complaints with the Nintendo Switch.
If you’re lucky enough to have never experienced Joy-Con operation, it’s a defect that can develop on both thumbs. It causes the system to detect a directional input that isn’t there, making it difficult to play most games. Just imagine trying to win one Mario Kart 8 Deluxe match when your kart constantly steers to the left.
Despite never formally acknowledging the problem, Nintendo is offering free repairs for those with affected Joy-Con in both the US and UK.
