Some Nintendo Switch owners continue to say the console’s left Joy-Con controller has sync problems. Even after the console’s first system update, they’re left wondering what they can do for a fix.
Image: Kotaku
The issue appears to occur while playing in TV mode and when the controller’s signal is interrupted, such as when another person stands between the Joy-Con and the Switch. This results in the left Joy-Con controller dropping connection or becoming unresponsive.
Nintendo provided us with the following statement: “We have received some reports and are looking into them. As with all Nintendo video game systems, we will continue to monitor the performance of Nintendo Switch hardware and software, and make improvements when necessary. For help with any hardware or software related questions, visit http://support.nintendo.com.”
Please note that not everyone is currently experiencing this. Here are some who apparently have been:
Also, I can confirm the JoyCon issue is still there. If I use them behind my back the left Joycon gets a bit spotty when I’m not in the room
— Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) March 3, 2017
@nintendolife Beware. My switch won’t connect the left joycon. Stuck at startup. #nintendoswitch pic.twitter.com/VkXHxt9NX3
— Brandon Murray (@donofwar) March 3, 2017
@NintendoAmerica Despite the day 1 patch, my left Joycon is still having problems staying connected. Any tips on how to fix this?
— Joe Bixler (@Bixel925) March 3, 2017
Well, the left joycon does desynchronize a lot. It’s really pissing me off. @NintendoAmerica
— Dustin (@DarkCarniVol) March 3, 2017
@TheMageling my left joycon won’t sync…
— Keith Evans (@akilladakeith) March 3, 2017
The left joycon desynced and Link jumped out a window.
Thankfully, the right joycon let me press buttons in a panic till I found the glider pic.twitter.com/MVbxWihYrp
— Lythero (@Lythero) March 3, 2017
Welp, left joycon issue just started for me. Holy shit is it bad.
— Stephen Donaldson (@Sir_Narwhal) March 3, 2017
Can confirm my Left Joycon keeps desyncing, even after Day One Update.
Never synced when console is on, right always is.— Lila (@lylotic) March 3, 2017
Erghghgg damn you left Joycon. Zelda is wonderful but the controller sync issues are unbearable.
— Matt (@mattdarveniza) March 3, 2017
[Image via NeoGAF] (Click this image’s upper right to enlarge.)
[Image via NeoGAF]
There are some reports of sync issues in Japan, with the left Joy-Con being seen as the problem.
左のジョイコン外すと使えないんだけど
— きんぱす (@Kinpas_Ry) March 3, 2017
“When I detach the left Joy-Con, I cannot use it.”
要するに左のジョイコンの右キーが反応しません
— Canart (@canart_00) March 3, 2017
“In short, the left Joy-Con buttons aren’t getting any response.”
Nintendo Switchでボンバーマンをプレイした時の遅延はこんな感じ。やりづれえです。 pic.twitter.com/Tnx7yMqFNr
— 瀬戸弘司 (@eguri89) March 3, 2017
Once again, the left Joy-Con controller could be the culprit. Eguri89 experienced lag in TV Mode as well as in Tabletop Mode.
『スーパーボンバーマン Ｒ』 のバトル操作時、コントローラーは、Nintendo Switch 本体に直接繋げる「携帯モード」または「Joy-Conの横持ち」を推奨しております。 Joy-Con の２本持ちやグリップ使用時に遅延（ラグ）を感じる場合は、そちらもお試しください。
— ボンバーマン公式 (BOMBERMAN) (@bomberman573) March 3, 2017
Konami has actually issued a statement about the Super Bomberman R lag, recommending that for battle mode, players don’t use the Joy-Con Grip, but rather change to Handheld Mode or detach the Joy-Con controllers for Tabletop Mode.
(´・ω・｀)これが３人対戦オンライン、本体ジョイコン横持ちでのボンバーマンの操作ラグです
(´・ω・｀)これでもわかりづらいと思う人は左側の白ボンがボムを置く位置に注目してください（2:30と2:22の場面）明らかにラグのせいでずれているのがわかると思います pic.twitter.com/jgYLl8aNBZ— りんごもちぃ(´・ω・｀)ｖ (@pico_gram) March 3, 2017
Yet, as this Twitter user shows, there still appears to be lag in Tabletop Mode with the left Joy-Con. (His character is in the upper right corner. The delay is most noticeable when the game clock is between 2:30 and 2:22.)
【Nintendo Switch ボンバーマンの遅延】ジョイコンをくっ付けてプレイしてみました。#ニンテンドースイッチ pic.twitter.com/kZ61YaRV8o
— 瀬戸弘司 (@eguri89) March 3, 2017
Oddly, in Handheld Mode, Super Bomberman R also appears to suffer from lag in the above clip, leading to Eguri89 to wonder if the problem was with the game itself rather than the hardware.
Prior to the console’s release, there have been reports of sync snafus. In Kotaku‘s Switch review, for example, Kirk Hamilton mentioned the left Joy-Con issue, writing, “I’ve also run into a frustrating issue where the left Joy-Con momentarily loses tracking and stops responding to my inputs. I’ll be playing Zelda with the two Joy-Con combined on the grip, and the left thumbstick momentarily detaches from the game.” Other Kotaku staffers (and other Switch reviewers) have also experienced left Joy-Con sync problems.
Digital Foundry examined the issue, creating this chart to explain the Joy-Con sync quality.
[Image: Digital Foundry]
Digital Foundry noted that the signal strength is not as strong as that of a regular game controller. “The fact there is a difference at all between the two Joy-Cons here is curious though,” Digital Foundry added. “After all, the right Joy-Con has only two spec differences, in its extra infra-red pointer and NFC chip.” Besides this, it continues, the controllers are the same. (For more, read Digital Foundry’s full report.)
[Image via NeoGAF]
The day one patch, some claimed on Reddit and NeoGAF, fixed this de-sync issue, but there are still folks claiming to have problems.
[Image: Reddit]
[Image: Reddit]
People having Left Joycon issues. Download the update and then reboot the Switch with the Joycons attached. This will fix it.
— ㅤ (@PaperBatVG) March 2, 2017
[Image: Reddit]
The reason given for the update not fixing the problem is that after the update the Switch must be rebooted with the Joy-Con controllers attached. Yet, that didn’t appear to work for everyone.
@NintendoAmerica Despite the day 1 patch, my left Joycon is still having problems staying connected. Any tips on how to fix this?
— Joe Bixler (@Bixel925) March 3, 2017
Day 1 patch does not resolve Joycon issue
— Brad Ward (@BradWardFight) March 3, 2017
Aaaaand apperently the day 1 patch doesn’t fix the joycon connection issues.
Oh joy. ?— Matt Charlesworth (@Invertednormals) March 3, 2017
@AndyMyers101 @mariofan1981 @Do_you_Knoz Yep, and people are still having issues.
— Tom Phillips (@tomphillipsEG) March 2, 2017
YouTube’s GameXplain rebooted with the Joy-Con controllers attached, but spotty connections remained.
Hardware launches are often rocky, and consoles usually get better as time passes in their production life. That, however, isn’t any comfort to those new Switch owners who are currently experiencing Joy-Con lag.
[Image via NeoGAF]
Comments
22 responses to “Switch Owners Are Still Reporting Joy-Con Connectivity Issues”
That Joe Merrick post is Serebii of the Pokemon community, and is also parodying people’s complaints. He’s championing the Switch and ignoring every valid flaw the console has.
I feel as though I made the right decision to hold off buying one… Maybe some hardware revisions are in order…
I’d be curious to know just how widespread this issue is. Hard to believe it could make it through testing if it really is that common.
I’d be willing to say it has more to do with distance from the console and what other wifi devices are are right next to it.
I’m using two wifi routers in my house, multiple wifi devices but none are sitting on top of the Switch right now, and I’m having absolutely no issues.
It’s an amazing device. Even better than what I had hoped for!
Hey remember the Xbox 360 red ring of death!!!
Yeah but that really became apparent over time. We’re talking about day 1 here!
Oh no man there were gross amounts of redrings from even day 1. The scope just grew and grew. Likely what will happen here
none of my friends who’ve gotten one are having issues after the update. it may just be the distance you sit/other signals in your area/way you hold controller/where the switch is sitting or then it may just be some joycons are weaker than others.
It is exactly that. I have similar issues with my PS4 controller if I play with it obscured by my legs/body/chair. Yes it’s slightly inconvenient to always play with a clear line of sight, no more than 6-8 feet from the PS4, but you get used to it.
i’ve never had issues with my ps4 controller, to test i just took it from my study to my kitchen (2 walls in between) and could still get signal.
Yeah, in general I can do that too. It’s just on occasion it goes haywire and I need to give it a clear LOS to the PS4 to get it to behave itself again. I think it’s a bluetooth issue.
No issues here either. Played 1-2-Switch without any hassles, Shovel Knight using the two Joy-Cons for co-op works well. I’ll be playing largely in handheld mode though, that’s my preferred setup for now.
Played a good 12 hours of Zelda so far – absolutely no Joycon issues what so ever.
How far are people from the console? It is running in Bluetooth LE to save on battery power – which also means weaker signal. may be a chance they could turn it off for short Joycon battery life.
I’m afraid it’s a hardware issue, not a software one ?
Makes me very hesitant to get a switch despite wanting one badly.
From what I’ve read it’s most likely an issue with the bluetooth signal being too low which ‘should’ be fixable with a firmware update but would probably reduce the battery life of the Joy-Cons.
Personally I haven’t had any issues at all yet though I did install all the initial updates in handheld mode so I’ll be interested to see if that does end up being the problem (joy-cons just not getting the update)
Rebooting with the joycons attached after the update did it for me, and boy did it do it well. Went from having to move the switch to the coffee table because the ~2m from tv to couch was too far to being able to be penetrate two brick walls.
I had the controller desync briefly while I was playing Zelda last night and Link took off running. Thankfully not in a major place but it was enough to be noticeable.
Wheres kotakus article on docks scratcging screens? Vids and photos appearing now
#Scratchgate?
I’d be getting a screen protector ASAP…
I did, just like I did with every device I own that has a screen. It’s like buying a car and getting insurance.
Are there any that feel like the actual screen? I’ve been running my phones naked for about 7 years and no scratches yet, but maybe it’s time.
Tablets always get covers though, they live in my bag at times.
I was having this issue last night when my Switch was next to the router. Moved it a foot or so to the side and it’s been totally fine ever since. Does seem to require a bit more line of sight than the PS4, though.
Apparently interference from other devices is an issue as well as line of sight. I wonder if WiFi and Bluetooth enabled phones in pockets is also causing an issue for some?
Bought one. Super frustrating. Playing Zelda from the couch is awful. Constantly cuts out on the left joycon.
It sucks, because it’s perfect in mobile mode… I’m hoping EB will let me swap for a new one.
Very disappointed. Otherwise, Zelda is amazing.