So I like to use Xbox controllers (doesn’t matter if it’s first- or third-party) because I like the layout, it’s just comfortable to me. However I’ve noticed that on all my controllers in the past few years, the left thumb stick will start to “give out” over the course of a couple months. For instance I’ll be pushing it forward all the way, but it won’t register for some reason and my character will only move a little bit. Sometimes wiggling it a bit will fix it, sometimes it doesn’t. And it’s not like I’m squeezing the hell out of the controller or mashing the stick constantly; in fact it’s made me try to be more delicate with my controllers, even though I’m just playing the games normally.
Is it just how controllers are, or am I just getting the shit end of the stick?
The solution to stick drift is buying controllers with Hall Effect joysticks; drift is caused by plastic parts literally grinding down and potentiometers wearing out. Hall Effect sticks don’t make contact, so they don’t have this issue. Since you like the Xbox layout, 8BitDo’s Ultimate controller could be a good third-party option for you.
I replaced my Joycon stick with a hall effect stick. Now it just drifts in a different direction, and I can’t run full speed to the left anymore.
CORRECTION: I had to calibrate it. Now it works great!
As far as I know its the graphite parts inside the potmeter that wears down.
Do you know what port it uses to charge? It has a charging dock but i can’t find it it charges through USB C or what in the dock. I dont want to have to use the dock to charge it
Do you know if the L2 and R2 use hall effect as well?
I play a lot of racing games, and I find that that L2 especially wears out prematurely on Xbox controllers.
Oddly I don’t have any problems with stick drift, just the L2 and R2 buttons become erratic.
I don’t know, but I suspect they’d’ve advertised it if that’s the case.
For what it’s worth though, I’ve been using an 8bitdo Pro (the predecessor to the Ultimate) daily since early 2020, including a lot of Splatoon (a game with a lot of holding and mashing of both triggers), and the triggers haven’t gotten the least bit soft or drifty, and (according to the Windows controller config screen, at least) still smoothly pull through the full analogue range. So they’re doing something good, anyway.
I used to think that Xbox controllers ALWAYS drift within a year.
Then I started keeping a secret controller away from the kids. It lasted years with no drift. I got a new one and let the kids use my old one… Drift in a month.
It’s not the controllers. You just drop it too much.
I’ve never had a controller with drift problems, and I know how I treat my controllers. I’ve seen people with controllers that drift all the time, and I’ve seen how they treat their controllers. There’s definitely a link.
That said high quality controllers (like first party ones) generally drift less, but not always (see switch joycons). If OP is killing his controller in months then something is going on.
but not always (see switch joycons).
And PS5 one. I’ve had a lot of controllers over the years and I’ve never had stick drift, except with joycons and the PS5 controller.
The switch pro controller is probably my most used controller, because it’s so ergonomic. I put the switch pro controller through a few thousand hours of smash bros. The stick is visibly deformed from mashing certain inputs over and over. And then a few thousand hours more playing Zelda and monster hunter (and souls games on PC). I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s had over 10 thousand hours of use. No stick drift on the controller.
I was gifted a PS5 controller because I was planning on getting the PS5. I never got a PS5, but that’s a different story. Anyway I decided to break it in to get comfortable with the layout and feel of the controller. Maybe max thousand hours of playtime which I’d consider it very light usage. And the left stick started to drift left. I’ve looked into it. It might just be an unfortunate speck of dust interfering with the sensor, but cleaning it requires almost complete disassembly and quite frankly it wasn’t that good of a controller anyway so it’s just collecting dust.
I’ve been suspicious that newer production lines for joysticks have been cutting costs in cheaper materials for a while now. I usually replace the joysticks when they drift, but I’m also quite comfortable to taking things apart and fixing them.
I remember my old PS2 controllers never drifted and that was back when I played hard on them every day after school. These days I hardly have time to play during the week, and they regularly go bad within a year or two.
Same conclusion for me.
The way some of my friends use controllers wants me to not have them around my house. Loudly banging sticks against the outer extremities, while for me it never even makes a sound.
I take care of my controllers, and only had very minot stick drift on 5-7 years old X/PS controller.
I got a 360 controller that is going strong but my Playstation and Nintendo controllers ended up drifting. I think they just don’t make them like they used to. My 360 controller is still one of my daily drivers.
It’s not physical damage, they really are just crap now. Used controllers for a decade and a half. Early Xbox One controllers lasted for years until the face buttons would become sticky. 360 controller was a tank, only had a loose trigger. All the ones I’ve had recently just keep getting drift.
It’s pretty common for Xbox controllers to get stick drift especially if they are older. Controllers that use “Hall effect” sensors for the joysticks apparently don’t have this issue but I am not sure there are any affordable ones I can recommend. I am not sure how common it is for Xbox controllers to just have a stick straight up die, that sounds much more unusual and maybe like something that is more prone to happen with a third party controller?
I have never done it but you can replace just the joystick part on the controller and that may be a cheaper route.
Also, if you are playing on a computer, software such as steam will let you define custom dead zones to be just big enough to eliminate stick drift and no bigger which helps a ton.
I have bought multiple Xbox x/s (wtf is wrong with your naming scheme Microsoft seriously) controllers over the years used on eBay at the lower end of the price range ($25ish). I try to find listings that state the controllers have no stick drift. I guess one of the controllers I bought had a bit more stick drift than I wanted but I fiddled with the dead zone (in my case through steam settings) and the problem went away. For precision stuff I use an armor-x pro to give my Xbox controller gyroscope aiming anyways :P
This youtube channel is a great resource on all things controllers, the guy might come off as annoying at first but the info is extremely good. https://m.youtube.com/@GamerHeavenOfficial
get something with hall effect sensors.
Buy the part and replace it.
What part would you have to replace on an Xbox One Elite controller, and where can you source such part(s). I googled before with no luck. Would appreciate any help. Thank you!!
https://a.co/d/0afS9ti Looks like the regular, s, and elite 1 all use the same module.
