After years of dealing with Joy-Con drift and no satisfactory answers from Nintendo, we may finally have our fix. A company called Gulikit created a set of Change joystick replacements who promise to banish stick drift once and for all (via gizmodo).
Unlike standard Nintendo Joy-Con, Gulikit’s joystick replacements use something called Hall Effect sensors to essentially make them drift-proof, the same technology used by ’90s-era Sega. Saturn 3D Y Dreamcast Controllers As iFixit notesThe sensors use magnets to detect the movement of the joystick, which means that none of the components rub against each other and wear out like the sensors used in Joy-Cons.
One of the reasons Joy-Con drift in the first place is that use potentiometers. This technology deteriorates over time, resulting in incorrect readings that make it appear as if the controller is possessed. In 2021, Nintendo executive Ko Shiota he likened the problem to car tires that “wear out as the car moves, since they are in constant friction with the ground to turn.”
That’s where Gulikit joysticks come in. The sticks, which are available for $29.70 on Amazon it will presumably put an end to frequent Joy-Con replacements and repair orders (that shouldn’t be the case at all). You’ll have to install the replacement joysticks yourself, of course, but this iFixit video should point you in the right direction when it comes to dismantling the Joy-Cons. Gulikit joysticks also come with a screwdriver, spare screws, pliers, and a plastic pry tool to help you get started.
While we haven’t had a chance to test them ourselves, Amazon users have left mostly positive reviews. However, some say they leave a small gap between the ring which is supposed to prevent dust and other debris from entering the Switch, though it’s unclear how or if this will affect the sticks (or the Joy-Cons themselves). . Gulikit also has replacement joysticks for the Steam Deck, as well as a full-fledged KingKong 2 Pro controller with hall effect sensors.
Please note that adding third party sticks could void the guarantee on your Switch and Joy-Cons, but it’s still a potential fix if you’re sick of stick drift. It’s sad that in the year 2023 we have to go through all of this just to get things to work properly when the technology is already there and has been there for decades.
