PS5 Players Report Their DualSense Controllers are Drifting

The PlayStation 5 launched at the tail-end of 2020 to huge success. Although the PS5 is not easy to find at the moment, the console is selling very well and, by most accounts, it is beloved. Similarly, the Nintendo Switch released in 2017 triumphantly. The hybrid console was also tough to find initially, but it has great games, and again, it was and continues to be a favorite. About the only thing that was a reason to complain about the Switch was the Joy-Con drift. Now, the PS5 may have the same issue.

Although PS5 part shortages may keep Sony from reaching its 2021 goals, more players are finally getting their hands on the PlayStation 5. And with players logging time on the console, fans are starting to, unfortunately, report thumbstick drift on the DualSense controller for the PS5.

The PS5's controller is, in many ways, revolutionary. Many believe it feels wonderful to hold, the haptic feedback is dynamic, and the technology within the controller is powerful. Not only did the PS5 console itself have a huge launch, but the PS5 DualSense controller had a massive launch month in terms of sales. But all of that technology may have its drawbacks. Players have been reporting DualSense controller drift that is hurting their experience with the next-gen console.

One player reported issues in less than two weeks after the launch of the console. No at-home fix has worked to address the problem. Another Reddit user posted a video clearly showing massive drift; even harsher than most of the Joy-Con drift reports that have resulted in Nintendo lawsuits. That video was uploaded over two months ago, highlighting the fact that the issue has been prevalent for quite some time.

As far as resolving the issue, it seems as if the DualSense controller drift problem is covered under the warranty, which is good news for the gamer. It may take a bit of a painful phone call of more than a dozen pre-recorded messages, according to reports, to finally set up the repair. However, the player will have to cover the cost of shipping and handling of the controller, as Sony does not take care of this.

The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is one of the selling points of the revolutionary next-generation console. The controller has brand new technology in it unlike what many gamers have ever been able to enjoy, and some great games have been able to take advantage of it. Additionally, it looks unlike the standard controllers that previous PlayStation consoles have used. In fact, Sony gambled a bit with both the design of the console itself and the controller.

It is a disappointment that the DualSense seems to have this rather major drift problem. Hopefully, moving forward, Sony can find out why the problem exists and fix the problem on a mass scale so that players no longer are purchasing controllers with the issue.

It's been nearly four years since the Nintendo Switch launched and it continues to be a massive sales success for Nintendo. It dominated hardware sales throughout 2020, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and up against the releases of the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. But this success hasn't protected it from the continued criticisms concerning the Joy-Con drift issue.

As a reminder, Joy-Con drift is when the controllers register input on the control stick even if it's not being touched by the player. While already infuriating for players, the problem appears to be widespread and not limited to a minority of Nintendo Switch owners. Nintendo has been hit with consistent complaints from not just Switch owners but major organizations, with the European Consumers Organization (known as BEUC) being the latest to get involved.