The analog sticks on gaming controllers are essentially mechanical parts. This means that over time and with frequent usage, they can get damaged. However, the question is how long can we realistically expect them to last before they start displaying problematic behavior? In the case of Sony’s PS5 DualSense controllers, not very long.
PS5 gamers have been reporting that they are experiencing an issue known as drifting. This is where cursors and characters on the screen start to scroll or move even without any user input. This isn’t a problem exclusive to the PS5 because some of you might recall, Nintendo also faced similar issues with the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers a few years ago and are currently facing lawsuits over it.
Now the good news for Sony PS5 owners is that it appears that the controller will be covered under the console’s warranty, so you can get it repaired or replaced if you’re having these problems. However, the downside is that you’ll need to send in the controller to Sony and you’ll have to pay for the shipping yourself.
This also means that if you only have one controller, you’re kind of stuck waiting for Sony to fix it and send it back to you. We’re not sure if Sony plans to updating the design of the DualSense controller in the future to address the problem of drifting, so this could be an issue that gamers will have to get used to for the foreseeable future.