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?
Drift is an unavoidable outcome from using potentiometers. The only way to actually fix it is to replace the joysticks, preferably with hall sensors.
Have you yourself had success with this?
I replaced a drifty joycon stick with a hall stick and it just switched to a different kind of drift. Also it registers diagonals when I’m physically pressing cardinal directions.
CORRECTION: I had to calibrate it. Now it works great!
I don’t know which one you get but but there was a batch/period where the chinese made ones have really bad QA cause they are rushing productions for the hall effect sensor sticks. Usually it’s pretty easy to get replacement if you got a bad one. (just that the shipping time you have to wait. some vendor doesn’t even require you to send the broken one back. )
there is a joystick test website: https://gamepadtest.com/ if you test with your controller and record video to prove their stick is pointing wrong way, you should have a good case to ask for replacement.
I got the Gamesir T4 Cyclone Pro, it’s working really well for me except sometimes it disconnect when playing RL.( maybe it detects it’s fully charged and tries to protect it’s battery or something, hopefully there will be firmware update to fix it. or maybe it’s RL’s fault as I play other games with controller without issue for 2+ hours long session. all connected wired, not wireless. )