There have been rising experiences of the newly-released Steam Deck handheld console affected by stick drift – however an replace has already been launched to repair it.
Stick drift is a matter the place the thumbsitcks of a controller act like they’re being pushed after they’re really not being touched. It’s an annoying drawback, and might intervene with video games because the controller will transfer participant characters on their very own.
It’s a difficulty that has plagued different programs, most noticeably the Nintendo Swap. Nonetheless, the truth that Valve has recognized and corrected the problem already is actually spectacular.
In response to Steam Deck engineer Lawrence Yang, the Steam Deck stick drift difficulty has been attributable to “deadzone regression” launched in a current replace. As Yang tweeted, an replace has been launched that fixes the problem, so when you’ve got been encountering the issue, putting in the replace ought to repair it.
Hello all, a fast observe about Steam Deck thumbsticks. The staff has seemed into the reported points and it seems it was a deadzone regression from a current firmware replace. We simply shipped a repair to deal with the bug, so be sure to’re updated.March 2, 2022
Evaluation: Valve’s speedy response needs to be a lesson to Nintendo
Whereas releasing a defective replace that precipitated the Steam Deck stick drift is a tad embarrassing, Valve needs to be recommended for the way rapidly it recognized the issue and issued a repair.
That is in stark distinction to Nintendo, the place Swap house owners have been complaining about stick drift on the Pleasure-Con controllers for years now.
Valve was in a position to difficulty a repair rapidly as a result of the Steam Deck stick drift was a software program drawback, and subsequently comparatively simple to repair.
The Swap’s stick drift difficulty, alternatively, seems to be a {hardware} drawback. This might require a significant redesign of the Swap Pleasure-Con controllers.
Nintendo really had a chance to do that when it launched the brand new Swap OLED mannequin. This might have been the right time to introduce new Pleasure-Con controllers with out the stick drift difficulty. Sadly, the Swap OLED ships with the identical Pleasure-Cons as the unique Swap, which suggests they may endure from stick drift.
Nintendo is no less than providing free repairs for affected Pleasure-Cons, even when out of guarantee. However that’s the least the corporate can do, and it solely did it after being topic to a class-action lawsuit in regards to the difficulty.
Nintendo’s lackadaisical strategy to addressing the Swap stick drift drawback is extremely irritating, and appears even worse when in comparison with Valve’s swift response. For individuals weighing up whether or not or to not purchase the Nintendo Swap or the Steam Deck, Valve’s fast repair might sway them. Nintendo ought to take observe.
By way of: Neowin