[ad_1]
The PS5’s DualSense is the latest controller to suffer drift problems, but a teardown of iFixit has revealed the cause of the irritating problem.
iFixit noted that there are many factors that can contribute to DualSense drift. The main one seems to be that the potentiometer joystick modules only have a lifespan of two million cycles and it means that they will eventually fail, especially if you’re into long gaming sessions.
The potentiometers are manufactured by the Japanese company Alps Alpine, which indicates their useful life on their specification sheets. Two million cycles may seem like a lot at first glance, but iFixit did the math and found that’s far from the case.
In fact, someone who plays for two hours a day could begin to experience potentiometer failures within four to seven months, depending on the games they are playing. Obviously that’s just an estimate, and the potentiometers may fail before or after that window.
iFixit was quick to point out that these modules aren’t exclusive to the DualSense either. They are exactly the same as used in the PS4 DualShock 4, Xbox One controllers (including the $ 180 Xbox One Elite controller), and the Nintendo Switch Pro controller.
Other factors that affect oncoming drift include stretching of the plastic and tension on the spring mechanism that helps center the joystick, as well as general dirt and grime that builds up over time. According to iFixit, the amount of soldering used to connect these components to the motherboard means that you would need some serious soldering equipment to replace them.
There have been a growing number of complaints related to DualSense drift in the months after launch. A Reddit user He even claimed that his controller started diverting within 10 days of purchase.
While Sony has promised to fix all the malfunctioning drivers that are still under warranty, it hasn’t been enough for some people and the company faces a class action lawsuit from disgruntled gamers.
iFixit insists that this is not how it has to be. The problem stems from the fact that gaming companies are using cheaper components that are difficult to replace, making controllers expensive to repair when those components fail.
The site notes that older controllers, such as those for the Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, do not have similar problems. The first uses magnets that can be easily replaced, and the second uses an optical sensor that still seems to work accurately even after the analog device started to fail.
All fails eventually, but it is clear that more can be done to delay the inevitable.
