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Writer's pictureSmash JT

Nintendo Patents Fluid Tech Joysticks to ELIMINATE Stick Drift



Nintendo Patents Fluid Tech Joysticks to ELIMINATE Stick Drift

Nintendo Patents Fluid Tech Joysticks to ELIMINATE Stick Drift
The gizmo, in all it's glory

For those tracking the latest from the gaming giant, Nintendo's been cooking up something interesting lately. A patent they've filed suggests they might be eyeing a solution for the notorious stick drift issue plaguing many a gamer. Let's dive into the details without getting too lost in the tech jargon.



So, Nintendo's potential game-changer? A joystick that's equipped with this 'smart fluid', or more technically, a 'magnetorheological fluid' (let's stick with MRF for simplicity). The basic idea is this: when you're moving the joystick, the MRF adjusts its thickness. This creates that familiar resistance we feel when we're gaming hard. The end game? The joystick returns to its starting point swiftly and smoothly.

Nintendo Patents Fluid Tech Joysticks to ELIMINATE Stick Drift
A how-it-works diagram

From the patent's intricacies, it's evident that Nintendo aims for this mechanism to give gamers that traditional joystick experience while ensuring it's efficient in its response. A diagram in the patent sheds light on this process, illustrating how the fluid's consistency can be controlled to pull the stick back to center.


Nintendo Patents Fluid Tech Joysticks to ELIMINATE Stick Drift
Game changer?

An interesting point to ponder is whether game developers could tweak this resistance. Imagine the possibilities: could we feel more tension or feedback during specific in-game scenarios? Exciting... but let's not get ahead of ourselves here.



However, it's important to note that patents can be unpredictable. While it's exciting to speculate, there's no saying for sure if this tech will make its way to our favorite Nintendo consoles. Given the past issues with Joy-Con drift, this could be Nintendo's way of leveling up their game. But like all things in the tech world, only time will tell.


~Smash

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