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. )
So the way I fixed this and I am in no way sponsored by them was to get a Gulikit King Kong 2 Pro, I also got tired of stick drift and expensive controllers, I have heavy fingers so my joysticks do not last I made some research about it and it turns out magnetic joysticks are a thing they do not get drift and are more accurate allegedly, I can confirm the deadzone on the them is basically 0 it’s nuts, it has the Xbox layout of a controller and the price is around the same, I love the thing to bits I do have some complaints tho if you press the joysticks with your nails a lot the covers usually get pretty marked up the buttons can feel low quality for sure you can tell the main focus of the controller is the joystick , the battery life is okish nothing that special but none of that AA battery bs that I hate, I had it for around 2y now and it’s still going strong. I don’t see myself ever going back to Playstation or Xbox jacked up controllers.
I can give more info on this if you need.
EDIT: I also totally forgot in my excitement to say I’m a PC user so this might not even help OP.
Switch controllers are notorious for wearing out quickly, but I haven’t heard anything about Xbox controllers.
The first thing to do would be to just take them apart and clean them. If you’re really wearing them out, see if you can find a controller with hall effect sensors instead of potentiometers.
Or replace your potentiometers with hall effect sensors. At least on the Switch it was a 15m fix.
if cleaning doesn’t work, you can try adjusting the dead zone on pc games (through steam or emulators)
I have the same issue on one of the controllers.
There are some hall effect sensor kits on Aliexpress but that requires extensive work to set up and install.
I think that is debris. I tried using some 3-in-1 oil on 3 of mine and they work fine now. There is probably a better choice of lubricant though
I deal with thumb stick drift by playing on keyboard and mouse
PCMR
