One of the issues plaguing the Nintendo Switch is a desync fault with the left Joy-Con. During our review process, we came across this problem while the Joy-Cons were detached from the handheld console and now it seems a hardware issue is to blame.
CNET reached out to Nintendo Customer Support about the desync issue and they offered to have them look at it and Nintendo fixed it in under a week. CNET sent the controller to Nintendo and the problem was fixed. Unfortunately, this means waiting around for a software update is pointless.
UPDATE: Nintendo of America has issued a statement on the desync issue.
So what is actually the cause of the Nintendo Switch left Joy-Con desync issue? It would seem Nintendo needed to add a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to the left Joy-Con.
The CNET story goes into detail on how the call to Customer Support went down, and even has photos of the Joy-Con taken apart to show the before and after. In the after shot, Nintendo has clearly added a conductive foam that's “been specially treated with nickel, copper or both so it can shield electronics from RF interference. (It's often used in portable electronics when there isn't space for a traditional shield.)”
CNET surmises that the foam placed on top of the Joy-Con’s antenna protects it from interference.
After some tests, CNET found that the left Joy-Con worked great after the addition, but also found that controllers sold separately worked perfectly but don’t include the foam that was added to the fixed Joy-Con.
We have reached out to Nintendo for official word on the issue and whether going to Customer Support is the best resource for those experiencing problems. We will update as soon as we learn more.
You can reach Nintendo Support by calling 1 (800) 255-3700 if you’re in the U.S.
In the meantime, let us know if you are experiencing the desync issue on your Nintendo Switch in the comments section below.
