After years of dealing with Joy-Con drift issues and Nintendo not offering a satisfactory solution, we may finally have a solution. A company called Gulikit has created a set of stick replacements for the Switch controller that promise to eliminate the problem of stick drift once and for all.
If you’re a Switch owner, you’re probably familiar with Joy-Con drift, which can create annoying mis-entry issues even if you don’t have access to the stick. This has been a problem since the Switch’s inception, so much so that it still hasn’t been fully resolved in the new OLED version (although Nintendo says it has made some “improvements”).
While Nintendo says you can send your Joy-Cons to Nintendo for free repairs (or just buy a new set), it’s inevitable that the grips will start drifting again.
Unlike Nintendo’s standard Joy-Cons, the Gulikit stick replacements use something called Hall-effect sensors, a technology that essentially keeps them from drifting.
One of the reasons Joy-Cons are a drift is that they use potentiometers. This technology degrades over time, causing inaccurate readings and making your controller appear scary. In 2021, Nintendo executive Ko Shiota likened the problem to car tires, which “get completely worn out as the car moves because they’re constantly rubbing and spinning against the ground.”
Gulikit’s joystick elements use the principle of electromagnetic induction, using magnets to detect joystick movement, meaning none of the elements actually rub and wear against each other like the sensors used on the Joy-Cons. The SEGA Saturn 3D controller and the later Dreamcast controller also use this technology.
The Gulikit is a new do-it-yourself part, and the kit comes with a screwdriver, replacement screws, a pair of pliers, and a plastic business tool to get you started. However, do-it-yourself replacements may void your warranty on your Switch and Joy-Cons, but are still a possible solution if you’re tired of your handlebars drifting.
