The disassembly of the DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5 appears to have focused on several factors that contribute to the joystick bypass problem.
First, some context: the PS5 released few months ago, but it didn’t seem to take long for players started reporting stick drift problems. Now, Sony is facing a class lawsuit related to the problem. Diving into the technical functionality of the DualSense controller, repair personnel at i solve this identified several problems that together may be contributing to the problem. But interestingly, the biggest one seems to be that the potentiometers on DualSense joysticks will inevitably fail.
iFixit identified the manufacturer of the joystick modules in DualSense – and other controllers from several other hardware manufacturers – such as the Japanese electronics and component company Alps Alpine. Citing an Alps spec sheet for joystick potentiometers, iFixit found that the company lists an operating life of 2,000,000 cycles in its RKJXV series.
By iFixit’s estimate, after measuring the controller interactions of one of its own engineers, this could mean that someone playing for two hours a day can start experiencing problems in just 4 to 7 months, depending on the game. iFixit noted, however, that potentiometers can fail before or after that window.
Wearing the joystick potentiometers may not be the only problem that contributes to drift. iFixit noted that stretching the plastic, stress on the spring mechanism that helps center the joystick and dirt accumulated with normal use can also contribute to the problem. In any case, the complicated process of addressing these problems – especially without welding tools – is a problem.
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Sony did not immediately return a request for comment on iFixit’s findings or the process related to warranty contracts.
The class action related to the PS5 DualSense controller was filed last week in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The primary claim in the complaint is that Sony is and has been aware of the problem, namely as a result of “thousands” of consumer complaints. It also targets what it considers an arduous customer support process and costs for consumers that Sony does not reimburse.
“Even for warranty repairs for Drift, customers have to pay for shipping the controller to a Sony repair center – a cost that varies based on a number of factors, including location and total package weight – and the Sony does not reimburse customers for these shipping costs, ”says the complaint. “As a result of Sony’s unfair, misleading and / or fraudulent business practices, owners of DualSense controllers, including the Claimant, have suffered a verifiable loss, de facto injury and have otherwise been harmed by Sony’s conduct.”