New Nintendo Switch Controller Fixes Biggest Design Flaw
The new NYXI Wizard controller fixes the Joy-Con's joystick drift.
Whoever said that the perfect Nintendo Switch controller doesn’t exist hasn’t seen the new NYXI Wizard controller, reminiscent of the best Nintendo controller ever—the WaveBird. Not only does it offer exceptional ergonomics and superb quality, but it also addresses the most important issue associated with the original Joy-Con’s design flaw. However, the only issue that still isn’t addressed is the property damage caused by flinging controllers.
According to Kotaku, the NYXI Wizard is the perfect combination of throwback Nintendo aesthetic and an all-around improvement design that eliminates all the issues plaguing the original Joy-Cons. It uses the updated WaveBird design, reviving one of the gaming world’s most beloved controllers ever made. Of course, the whole thing is modernized with Hall-Effect sensors, back buttons, and improved triggers.
It can act as a standalone WaveBird for a docked Nintendo Switch, or it can split apart and connect to the handheld console just like Joy-Cons would.
Hall-Effect sensors are the biggest improvement over the typical Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, as they greatly reduce the joystick drift that has been plaguing the Joy-Cons—the engagement of directional controls when the stick is left in the resting position. In addition to addressing the stick drift, NYXI added several important features to the Wizard controller to make it perform better and feel more premium. For example, the joysticks are interchangeable, the back buttons have improved tactile switches, and the ABXY buttons are now illuminated—luckily, they’re white, so they’re not likely to attract PC gamers.
While all of these feel like relatively minor DYI upgrades compared to Hall-Effect sensors used for joysticks, they do justify the controller’s premium price sticker of approximately $70—a cost of a AAA gaming title. It’s a pretty reasonable price tag if we factor in purchasing a new set of Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons every two or so years and the fact that the OEM DualShock 4 and DualSense (those actually manufactured by Sony) don’t age well, too. Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S controllers have proven to be of better quality compared to Sony’s respective equivalents.
The original WaveBird, on the other hand, is timeless.
NYXI stated that the Wizard offers 8.5 hours of gaming while requiring only 2.5 hours to fully charge, which is comparable, if not slightly better, than Sony and Xbox counterparts. The other issue we mentioned, though admittedly it isn’t as widespread as the drift problem, is the damage to personal property. This particular issue is more related to the games you play, and Nintendo’s sports games and controllers have a joint history of broken television sets, which have resulted in various Velcro straps being mounted on controllers to prevent slippage.
It’s highly unlikely that anyone would use NYXI Wizard to play Nintendo Switch Sports; the option isn’t excluded. If that’s the case, we urge gamers to find a way to secure the individual halves of the Wizard to their hands to avoid property damage—remember, repairing broken TV screens is a costly business. It’s also beyond us why split gamepad manufacturers still don’t implement safety straps that would secure the joypad to the hand.
