Latest news with #NateBihldorff
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Nintendo seems ready for a problem the Switch 2 might face
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Nintendo Switch 2 is already out, and so far, the reviews for the new portable console have been positive. Things might change later down the line if one particular issue resurfaces. With the original Switch, one prominent issue for the console was Joy-Cons would register some movement even though the controls were not in use. This problem, referred to as drifting, caused Nintendo to acknowledge the problem and set up a repair program to replace the Joy-Cons even if the console is out of warranty. Nintendo was even the subject of a class-action lawsuit over the issue, which it ultimately won. It appears Nintendo is ready for this problem to resurface on the Switch 2, as its Service Request page does offer to repair or replace a Joy-Con 2 that has the drifting problem. As of the writing of this article, there has yet to be a trend of new Switch 2 consoles having this issue. The Switch 2 comes with a 12-month manufacturer warranty from Nintendo. It's unclear if Nintendo will offer the same policy for replacing Joy-Cons 2 that begin drifting after the warranty has expired, like with the original Switch. An email was sent to Nintendo about this scenario, and this story will be updated when a response has been received. A report from Engadget showed how prices for Switch 2 repairs have increased over the original Switch. Sending in a Switch OLED with water damage costs $139, but that same problem for the Switch 2 now runs $179. This does make sense as the Switch 2 is more expensive and uses higher-end components versus what was in the original Switch. You can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 in store at Walmart. Check your local Walmart stores for stock status. Features: 7.9-inch 1080p LCD touch screen, HDR support, up to 120 fps, TV dock supports 4K, GameChat, 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD Express Deal There are two main causes for the drifting issue in the Joy-Cons. The first is a buildup of dirt and debris within the controller itself. The second, and the likely more common issue, is worn-out contacts in the controller. In both cases, drifting takes time to manifest, hence the reason this problem started trending years after the console's release in 2017. Drifting is actually a common problem with analog controllers. To counter this issue, which stems from how the analog sticks use electrical resistance to detect movement, there are Hall Effect joysticks. These particular controls use magnets and electrical conductors instead, and because this method doesn't have actual physical contact between the parts, it's less likely to wear out. According to an interview from April with Nintendo's Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development & publishing at Nintendo of America, the Joy-Con 2s would not have Hall Effect joysticks. No specific reason was given for why this method was not being used on the Switch 2. Early reviews for the Joy-Con 2s have been positive, with reviewers feeling sturdier than the originals. It remains to be seen if this issue will come up again on the Switch 2.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Nintendo says the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers don't have Hall effect thumbsticks
While the Nintendo Switch 2 had its splashy debut last week, including details about the hardware and launch games, there's still lots about the console that Nintendo has yet to clear up. For instance, the company hasn't gone into specifics about the CPU and GPU that are powering the Switch 2, other than to touch on the performance enhancements that they offer over the Switch (NVIDIA separately confirmed that the Switch 2 uses its Deep Learning Super Sampling tech). However, since last Wednesday's blockbuster Direct, Nintendo has touched on some new Switch 2 details in interviews with the press. For one thing, Nate Bihldorff, Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing at Nintendo of America, told Nintendo Life that the console's Joy-Con 2 controllers do not use Hall effect tech. "The Joy-Con 2's controllers have been designed from the ground up," Bihldorff said. "They're not Hall effect sticks, but they feel really good." Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto separately said that the Joy-Con 2 joysticks "are quieter and don't make noise, even when they're moved quickly to the edge." The company is referring to them as "smooth-gliding sticks." Engadget has asked Nintendo why the company opted not to use Hall effect tech in the Joy-Con 2. We've also asked whether the Switch 2 Pro Controller foregoes Hall effect sensors as well. This technology is becoming increasingly common in the thumbsticks of third-party gamepads, but Nintendo has yet to implement it in its own joysticks (nor have Sony or Microsoft, for that matter). The idea behind Hall effect sensors is that they reduce the likelihood of stick drift. This problem was so pervasive on the original Switch's Joy-Cons that Nintendo offered free, unlimited repairs for stick drift in Europe. So it's not clear why Nintendo would opt out of having Hall effect sensors in the Joy-Con 2 to help mitigate such problems. Meanwhile, Nintendo has confirmed US pricing for a few Switch 2 experiences. The company told IGN that the upgrades for two The Legend of Zelda games — Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom — cost $10 each for those who already own either game. However, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers get access to the upgrades at no extra cost. The Switch 2 upgrades include visual fidelity and framerate enhancements, along with the inclusion of HDR support and faster loading times. You'll also be able to use the Switch mobile app as a Sheikah Slate of sorts, helping you to find hidden items with voiced directions. In addition, Nintendo has revealed that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which seems like a tech demo that will take you through all the features of the console, will cost $10. As for why Nintendo is charging 10 bucks for this as opposed to offering it for free (like Valve did with the fun Steam Deck tech demo, Aperture Desk Job, or Sony did with Astro's Playroom on PS5), Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience Bill Trinen had this to say to IGN: For some people, I think there are people who are particularly interested in the tech and the specs of the system and things like that, for them I think it's going to be a great product. It's really for people that want more information about the system rather than necessarily a quick intro to everything it does. And for that reason and just the amount of care and work that the team put into it, I think it was decided that, 'Yeah, this feels like $9.99 is not an exorbitant price. It feels like a good value for what you're getting out of the product.'
