Joy-Con drift is a persistent problem with the Nintendo Switch. This occurs when players see false inputs even though they aren't touching the joysticks. The company has been quiet about the matter for many years and refused to comment on whether the OLED-equipped Nintendo Switch OLED has fixed the problem. Today, however, Nintendo is breaking their silence and suggesting that Joy-Con drift may not be completely addressed.
The company revealed in a Q&A that it has been steadily improving the Joy-Cons to make them more reliable. The Joysticks in 2019's Switch Lite don't look the same as the ones in 2017 and are constantly being improved.
Ko Shiota is a Nintendo executive and serves as GM for Nintendo's Technology Development Division. He basically states that the Joy-Con will eventually wear down.
Does that mean wear is inevitable as long as parts are in direct contact with each other? Shiota, Yes. Car tires, for instance, wear as they move because of constant friction with ground. We started to think about how we could improve durability. This is something we're constantly working on.
The company claims that the OLED joysticks include the most recent version. They also ship with the base Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, Joy-Con controllers and Pro Controllers. Toru Yamashita, deputy general manager, said that the analog-stick parts have been continuously improved since launch. We are still making improvements. Yamashita states that Joy-Cons will be repaired using the most recent versions of the sticks.
The OLED Switch will be available on Friday. We'll have to wait to see if the improvements make Joy-Cons less prone to drifting over time. It seems that Nintendo doesn't expect to completely solve Joy-Con drift.
Although the interview is lengthy, it's well worth reading. It's a rare chance to hear directly from Nintendo about hardware development.
