How Do You Deal With Thumb Stick Drift? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago by Zahille7@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world

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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?

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[-] ky56@aussie.zone 4 points 9 months ago

I have the Valve Index and my game plan is that I have a soldering iron and the Aliexpress link ready to go. I have not owned it long enough to know how good or bad the life span is yet though. Just based off the rumors I looked into how to get the stick replacement before buying.

[-] Twitchy@aussie.zone 2 points 9 months ago

I can attest to how mine lasted which might help. I used it semi regularly maybe once or twice a week for the first 2 months. After on and off use it lasted for 7-8 months before the right joystick started to drift but I do know I could be a little rough with it while playing Boneworks so I'm sure that didn't help.

I did the repair on the right controller with the cheap Ali express joystick and found it to be a massive improvement in quality and actually clicks in propperly now.

It's not an amazingly easily repair and I'll admit to damaging the capacitive touch on my joystick due to being a bit rough on the dissasembly. But if your half competent with soldering and got a decent toolkit then go for it.