Wavebird 2.0 for Nintendo Switch promises to be free of drift

Like many others, the GameCube Wavebird It was the first game console that I seriously fell in love with. Whatever came before that was fine. At best a novelty, at worst a major pain, but mostly just a means to an end. Now there’s a new controller for the Nintendo Switch that looks just like the spiritual successor to 2002’s peripheral and claims to have none of the stick drift issues that the Joy-Con was known for.

“The Nyxi Wizard combines the retro look of a long-running NGC controller with a more ergonomic design and works perfectly with any Nintendo Switch console,” Nyxi recently said. chirp. The console is on sale for $70, and features replaceable joysticks and adjustable turbo and mapping options. But the real draw is the hall-effect joystick that uses magnets to prevent drift.

As Chris Pearson points out out in the edgeSega used this technology for Sega Saturn 3D and Dreamcast consoles. By using parts that are less prone to wear, the sticks should last longer without succumbing to drift as the directional controls engage even when the stick is left in idle mode. As a person it seems modern controllers only last a few years before the pin springs break or the rubber starts to crackTo top it off, it’s an attractive proposition, and one for 8bitdo and other niche console manufacturers working on subtraction.

Joy-Con issues are well known at this point. I’ve gone through three husbands in six years. There were problems with the locking mechanisms on the sides and button springs, but drifting is the most notable, Which led to lawsuitsAnd Organizational investigationsAnd overburdened repair centers. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the new Sony DualShock 4 and PS5 DualSense haven’t worn well over the years either. In the meantime? Still fine for a friendly match Smash Bros.

And that’s Nyxi Wizard’s other main appeal: providing industrial polish for nostalgic design Moderates were emulated for years now. While the look instantly conjures up images of late-night GameCube sessions, it also follows in the footsteps of the console that would become the wave of the future, from the lack of wires to the joysticks. Almost 20 years later, we’re still living in the future Nintendo built into Wavebird.

Having not tried it yet, I have no idea if it will actually feel good, or will hold up as well, as the company boasts. But it’s nice to see The current renaissance in gamepad design Continue to unfold.