Nintendo VP Announces Joy-Cons for Switch 2 Will Not Include Hall Effect Sticks

In a recent development that has attracted widespread attention, Nintendo of America has clarified that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will not incorporate Hall effect sensors in its Joy-Cons or Pro Controllers. Nate Bihldorff, the Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing at Nintendo of America, shared these insights during an interview with Nintendo Life. Despite opting out of using Hall effect technology, Bihldorff emphasized that the new console’s analog sticks have been carefully crafted to prioritize durability.

Bihldorff explained, “The Joy-Con 2’s controllers are completely redesigned. They’re not Hall Effect sticks, but they offer a fantastic feel.” He further added that whenever Nintendo unveils new hardware, the goal is to create the best possible user experience, focusing both on the interaction between the Joy-Cons and the game itself, as well as on durability.

The original Nintendo Switch faced significant issues with stick drift throughout its lifespan. This problem, where analog sticks would move slightly on their own without input, led to multiple class-action lawsuits against Nintendo. The company responded with apologies from its presidents and implemented free replacement programs for faulty analog sticks.

To understand the significance of using Hall effect technology, it’s important to note how it differs from traditional methods. Unlike standard analog sticks, which rely on physical contact with pads to detect movement, Hall effect sticks use magnets for this purpose. This technology sidesteps the wear-and-tear issues associated with contact pads, which can lead to stick drift. While many third-party controllers and even some high-end PC peripherals now use Hall effect joysticks, Nintendo’s choice to steer away from this reliable technology has left some industry observers puzzled.

Despite avoiding Hall effect sensors, Bihldorff reassured that the durability of the controllers was the main focus during the development process. This sentiment was echoed in a recent developer roundtable, where Kouichi Kawamoto, the Switch 2 producer, remarked that even though the Pro Controller may appear similar to its predecessor, it has been rebuilt from the ground up.

Tetsuya Sasaki, who leads hardware development, shed light on Nintendo’s overarching vision for controllers. He described an ongoing initiative to create the ultimate controller masterpiece. Although he didn’t declare whether the Switch 2 has achieved this vision, the team’s enthusiasm about the new “smooth-gliding switches” was apparent.

Only as the new console is used extensively will it become clear if Nintendo has successfully tackled the stick drift issue with the Switch 2. Given past experiences with Joy-Cons developing drift issues within six months, we’ll likely know by 2026 if this problem persists without Hall effect technology. For more in-depth information about the Switch 2, including details about its DLSS and ray tracing capabilities, check out our other stories covering Nintendo’s latest hardware innovations.