A teardown of the DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5 seems to target several factors that contribute to the joystick drift problem.
First some context: the PS5 has launched just a few months ago, but it didn’t seem to be long for gamers began to report stick drift problems. Now Sony is facing one class action lawsuit related to the problem. Dive into the technical functionality of the DualSense controller, the repairers of i fix it identified several issues that can contribute to the problem together. But interestingly, the biggest seems to be that the potentiometers in the DualSense joysticks will inevitably fail.
iFixit identified the maker of the joystick modules in the DualSense – and other controllers from several other hardware makers – as the Japanese electronics and components company Alps Alpine. Citing an Alps specification sheet for joystick potentiometers, iFixit found that the company has a lifespan of 2,000,000 cycles on the RKJXV series.
According to iFixit’s estimate, after measuring the controller interactions of one of its own engineers, this could mean that someone gaming for two hours a day could start having problems within 4 to 7 months, depending on the game. However, iFixit noted that potentiometers before or after that window could fail.
Wear on the joystick potentiometers isn’t the only problem contributing to drift, however. iFixit noted that plastic stretching, tension on the spring mechanism that helps center the joystick, and debris that builds up with normal use can also contribute to the problem. In any case, the complicated process of dealing with these issues – especially without soldering tools – is a problem.
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Sony did not immediately return a request for comment on iFixit’s findings or the lawsuit related to its warranty agreements.
The class action complaint regarding the PS5’s DualSense controller was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York last week. The primary claim The complaint states that Sony is and has been aware of the problem, namely in response to “thousands” of consumer complaints. It also addresses what it considers to be a painstaking customer support process and costs to consumers for which Sony is reportedly not reimbursing them.
“Even for repairs that are under warranty for Drift, customers will have to pay to ship the controller to a Sony repair center – costs that vary based on a number of factors including location and total package weight – and Sony does not reimburse customers for these shipping charges, “claims the complaint.” As a result of Sony’s unfair, deceptive and / or fraudulent business practices, owners of DualSense controllers, including plaintiff, have suffered a demonstrable loss, in fact injury, and otherwise harmed. because of Sony’s behavior. “