Fixing Switch’s left Joy-Con desync issue could be as simple as a black piece of foam [UPDATE]

By Stephany Nunneley

If you sent your Joy-Con off for repair, it’s quite possible all it took to fix the connectivity issue with your Switch controller, was a little piece of black foam. Since the story went live this morning, Nintendo has issued a statement on the matter.

Update

Nintendo told Polygon the issue with the controller wasn’t a design flaw and there were no “widespread proactive repair or replacement efforts” underway.

Instead, the issue was due to a “manufacturing variation” causing wireless interference with a “small number” of left Joy-Cons. Furthermore, the company told the site there won’t be future issues with the Joy-Con as the said manufacturing variation was corrected at “the factory level.”

This pretty much confirms what CNET found when it ordered a new Switch console, and didn’t experience issues with the controller.

Finally, Nintendo said it has found a “simple fix” can be made improve connectivity – the black foam piece, we reckon.

Original story is as follows.

Original Story

That’s according to a report from CNET Australia (thanks, Siliconera), which sent its left Joy-Con controller off to Nintendo for a fix.

According to the site, when the Switch controller was sent back, the only difference seen was the addition of a small square of black foam in the bottom right placed on top of the antenna traces.

CNET believes this is a “a piece of conductive foam” treated with either nickel, copper or both which is said to keep electronics from encountering radio-frequency interference. RFI issues can be caused by household items such as microwaves.

The site tested its theory and removed the piece of foam. Connectivity issues started up once more. To further test the theory, CNET purchased another Switch console and found there weren’t any connectivity issues with the left Joy-Con.

Upon taking the housing apart, it was noted the controller didn’t have the same piece of foam as the one sent off for service.

The site figures Nintendo has found a fix for the issue, and that new stock doesn’t have the same connectivity issues. That said, there were many Switch owners who didn’t experience these issues.