Polygon’s Arthur Gies was among the first to report problems regarding the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers. The left controller specifically appears to suffer from connectivity issues when the system is docked and the controller is placed in the included “Joy-Con grip.”
“Over the course of my time with Breath of the Wild, I’ve had repeated problems with the left Joy-Con controller partially or even completely losing sync from the Switch console while docked and connected to my television,” Gies said.
Kotaku’s Jason Schreier reported similar issues, and raised concerns that the problem could be much more severe for Nintendo if it isn’t limited to a firmware issue — should it be rectifiable via an update, day-one purchasers might not even have ever known there was previously an issue at all.
This problem could at least be given a temporary solution if users were to instead use the $70 Nintendo Switch Pro controller, which features a layout similar to contemporary game consoles and doesn’t require the use of the Joy-Con controllers at all, but they’ve become almost impossible to find. Major retailers like GameStop and Amazon are sold out, meaning that if the issue isn’t solved by March 3, you’re only left with one option: Playing the Switch in its “portable” configuration. As the problem appears to be related to the Joy-Con not syncing with the console properly, a physical connection between the two should eliminate any issues.
In our own time with the Nintendo Switch thus far, we haven’t experienced any issues with the left Joy-Con disconnecting. We will continue to test the console before its debut and beyond. We will update this story if anything changes.
The Nintendo Switch is scheduled for release on March 3.
Update: Nintendo has responded on its official support website on how users can work around the Joy-Con’s connectivity issues. Solutions include a software update, ensuring the Switch is in line of sight, and to consider possible interferences from other devices. The full list of steps can be found below.
Try these steps:
- Ensure your console has the latest system update.
- Ensure the Joy-Con controllers are charged. How to
- Try to decrease the distance between the Joy-Con and the Nintendo Switch console.
- Ensure that the Nintendo Switch console is placed to minimize interference with the Joy-Con. It is best if the Nintendo Switch console is placed out in the open and that it is not:
- Behind a TV
- Near an aquarium
- Placed in or under a metal object
- Pressed against a large amount of wires and cords
- Within three to four feet of another wireless device, such as a wireless speaker or a wireless access point.
- Check for possible sources of interference and turn them off. Interference can be caused by devices, such as:
- Laptops, tablets, etc.
- Wireless headsets
- Wireless printers
- Microwaves
- Wireless speakers
- Cordless phones
- USB 3.0-compatible devices such as hard drives, thumb drives, LAN adapters, etc.
In most cases it will be enough to move these devices three to four feet away from the Nintendo Switch console and/or Joy-Con controllers. However, if you continue to experience this issue, please power these devices off while using the Nintendo Switch console.
Updated on 03-04-2017 by Imad Khan: Added Nintendo’s official response and fix for Switch Joy-Con connectivity issues.
Editors' Recommendations
- All upcoming Switch games: 2024 and beyond
- 3 new Nintendo Switch games you should try this weekend (May 10-12)
- Nintendo’s next game is all about mastering NES classics
- Hades 2 shows the Steam Deck’s biggest advantage over the Nintendo Switch
- 3 retro classics to play on Nintendo Switch Online this weekend (May 3-5)
