Multiple reports of joycon connectivity issues in Switch previews

So since this appears to maybe be a hardware and physics problem, I postulate its also maybe because the tiny joycons get so engulfed by your hands that the signal is struggling to escape your flesh at times as well as burrow through any entertainment unit?

The Joycon grip should have been an extra Bluetooth transmitter rather than a lump of plastic so the entire package wasn't a potentially total poor fit for purpose as a home console.

EDIT: Oh, just saw the GameXplain, so yeah its exactly that. Nintendo's scrimping finally fucked them huh.
 
KaYotiX said:
Thats what i thought till i saw this video

I dont know if obstruction is the only factor.
Look at the Whats Up video again
https://youtu.be/O6w536jv1g8?t=1004
Seems to have a clear line of sight when the issue occurs, if it is the same issue.
Click to expand...

Man, the GX video, Jason's tweets and this video are not showing a nice picture about this issue. If it can't be fixed via firmware it's really unacceptable and shouldn't have passed the QA.

I have a ton of wireless controllers and none acts like this.
 
So...it seems like this problem won't arise in handheld or tabletop modes, since the screen size would prevent most people from playing at a significant distance. However, it sounds like a pretty big problem for docked mode. I wonder if Nintendo can update the firmware to boost the BT signal when the console is in docked mode to prevent such issues. What I don't get is that we've seen people play with Joy-Cons in all the preview events, and we've seen the Joy-Cons be used in all kinds of poses and settings. Why is it suddenly weird now? Why does gripping it like an NES controller or playing a game like 1-2 Switch or ARMS not automatically mess up the signal? Perhaps the Joy-Con strap/grip things help in some way?

Nintendo likely needs to put out a statement by tomorrow at the latest; I assume Japan's time difference means most official responses are delayed so I'm not expecting it today. As a consumer, I want to understand: 1) Does this affect everyone or just select Joy-Cons with a particular quality issue? Is this a problem inherent to the hardware/software or is it related to interference (e.g., Wii's IR sensor issues when sunlight was involved)? 2) Can this problem be fixed via firmware? If so, when will this happen? (Better be Day 1 or very close to it) 3) If this problem can't be fixed via software, what will Nintendo do to address this issue?

If I don't see a response to these questions by the end of the weekend, I'll be pretty concerned for Nintendo's product and their product testing.

KingSnake said:
Man, the GX video, Jason's tweets and this video are not showing a nice picture about this issue. If it can't be fixed via firmware it's really unacceptable and shouldn't have passed the QA.

I have a ton of wireless controllers and none acts like this.
Click to expand...

What's weird is that I don't remember Nintendo's previous wireless controllers having this issue either. I had a Wavebird, and IIRC, that controller's range was 30 feet. I remember doing all kinds of weird things to test out the limits of the signal.
 
I wonder if the problem is as bad if you turn wifi off on the console. Bluetooth and standard wifi use a 2.4Ghz channel. Would be revealing if the issue was lessened with the WiFi off.
 
Does it still happen if you attach the Joycon strap?

I'm guessing it's basically the equivalent of the iPhone 4 antenna issue.
 
My beats Bluetooth headphones start having sketchy connection if my phone is in my pocket and doesn't have strong distance. Seems similar here. Disappointing after my wavebird working from like 30 ft away with walls partially blocking it (different signal i know, but also over a decade ago)
 
Cob32 said:
Dunno man did you watch the Zelda video? The guy is just holding the joy con normal in front of him and there's issues.
Click to expand...

Yep just watched the video and yea that is bad, should not be doing that from that distance, seems like the signal must be really weak.
 
Plum said:
Gamexplain just released a video on the issue. Gives more credence to it being a possible hardware issue, with both Joy-Cons becoming choppy when blocked by a hand or put behind the back. The green light that says it's connected stays on, so it's not a desync issue.
Click to expand...

Wow. This is not something that should be happening in 2017. It feels like the old infrared days.

How long before Nintendo tells us we're holding it wrong?
 
Vitacat said:
Really? You don't think more than 50% of Switch owners will ever play it more than 6 feet away in console mode?
Click to expand...

I think we know fuck-all about the exact source of these intermittent issues yet and there could be any number of confounding factors that are causing it in some situations but not in others.
 
And that is why we have NDAs and hype videos preventing us knowing this way before hand. I'm happy this surfaced quick so people know what they're in for.
 
I wonder when they'll break the silence on it. I refuse to believe this didn't creep up in testing. They're probably all hands on deck trying to figure out the impact and whether they can fix it.
 
If there's a recall on JoyCons, a reCon, I hope they can retcon their launch, because I will be holding off on Zelda until the hardware is fixed. I ordered another pair of JoyCons, really bummed if they're bad too.
 
The question you should ask yourself is.
When you have your switch and you do the day 1 patch.
You start up zelda.
And after 20 min randomly zelda walks wrong lags and doesnt respond.
And in 40 min again and again etc..

Will you just think oh well maybe a later update will fix it.

Or

How fast are you returning the console?
 
Looks like a similar issue I had with the Dualshock 3 on Playstation 3. If its just TV mode that causes this problem I should be fine, but they should still fix this.
 
schuelma said:
How could they possibly have not caught this?
Click to expand...

I would like to hope they did. The Switch, from the sounds of it, looks and feels like fairly expensive hardware and when it comes to the build, Nintendo's been getting praise left and right. It's been demo'd at a whole bunch of crowded events where both physical and electronic interference should have made this an issue people have already stumbled upon, and yet we're only now experiencing it when press got their hands on it.

Who knows, maybe the pre-update units have a lowered Bluetooth signal. Is that a possibility? That they could possibly boost it when it goes commercial? It's either that or some kind of unforeseen hardware defect cause these issues should not have cropped up now.
 
Some of you in here are fucking crazed. Wait for Nintendo to actually test this and release a statement. Some of you are already sure it's going to be mass recalled
 
To me, if it is a hardware issue like it looks like it is, Nintendo's only real course of action is to commission new JoyCon with less battery life but stronger BT radios. Then entitle purchasers of a Switch prior to a certain date a free set, and bundle them with the system going forward.

I don't know how else you fix it if it's weak BT hardware.
 
You guys do realize this isn't happening to some units even under these same circumstances right? That would suggest that it's likely due to wireless interference weakening the signal. Blocking it with your hand or moving further away will obviously exacerbate that weakening effect.
 
hatchx said:
A complete recall on all joy cons? That would be pretty freakin' disastrous.
Click to expand...

Replacements will be sent out 2-3 weeks after they have been received.
In the meantime all you lucky switch owners get a free £5 off voucher for a pro-controller.

ASTROID2 said:
I imagine they wouldn't require you to send your controller in since that would make the console unplayable.
Click to expand...
Maybe not but most people want to play zelda and a lot of those people want to play on a tv, so it's unplayable even if they keep the dodgy joy cons.
 
Scoobie said:
Yep just watched the video and yea that is bad, should not be doing that from that distance, seems like the signal must be really weak.
Click to expand...

It seems that the signal is emitted from the area where SL/SR buttons reside. Once it is blocked (when you are holding the left JoyCon, naturally your fingers will cover that area) there will be lags in input. It is a little weird that Nintendo misses this bug/design flaw, but theoretically speaking it can be easily solved by adding an antenna bar at the bottom/top of the JoyCon
(in the next revision of Switch)
.
 
Skittzo0413 said:
You guys do realize this isn't happening to some units even under these same circumstances right? That would suggest that it's likely due to wireless interference weakening the signal. Blocking it with your hand or moving further away will obviously exacerbate that weakening effect.
Click to expand...

So the solution is to turn off your WiFi, or...?
 
Hmmm. It does look like a hardware issue - the Bluetooth signal isn't strong enough not to be blocked by a hand, probably an issue made worse by the joycons being so small. It's like the iPhone signal issue a few years ago.

I don't think it's THAT big a deal for me because I imagine I will use a pro controller when docked. But it's not great and Nintendo needs to sort this out.

I haven't pre ordered but I do want one later this year when Super Mario Odyssey comes out.
 
This sure is blowing up fast and big. If Nintendo can turn off the Bluetooth low power mode, that could help. Of course, the joy cons battery life will suffer.
 
NotLiquid said:
I would like to hope they did. The Switch, from the sounds of it, looks and feels like fairly expensive hardware and when it comes to the build, Nintendo's been getting praise left and right. It's been demo'd at a whole bunch of crowded events where both physical and electronic interference should have made this an issue people have already stumbled upon, and yet we're only now experiencing it when press got their hands on it.

Who knows, maybe the pre-update units have a lowered Bluetooth signal. Is that a possibility? That they could possibly boost it when it goes commercial? It's either that or some kind of unforeseen hardware defect cause these issues should not have cropped up now.
Click to expand...

Most if not all demoed joycons were very close to the console.
 
Skittzo0413 said:
You guys do realize this isn't happening to some units even under these same circumstances right? That would suggest that it's likely due to wireless interference weakening the signal. Blocking it with your hand or moving further away will obviously exacerbate that weakening effect.
Click to expand...

Or maybe the units where it doesn't happen are sitting very close to the joycons (like at a desk).
 
Skittzo0413 said:
You guys do realize this isn't happening to some units even under these same circumstances right? That would suggest that it's likely due to wireless interference weakening the signal. Blocking it with your hand or moving further away will obviously exacerbate that weakening effect.
Click to expand...

Doesn't bode well for people in apartments buildings, dorms, or with close neighbors if that's the case.
 
I mean damn, the PS4 controller uses BT and you can use that thing 15 feet away and through a wall. No excuse for the JoyCon to be any different.
 
Nintendo needs to announce something. Probably cancelling my second order of Joy Cons and depending on what is said potentially holding off on the actual console.
 
Spukc said:
The question you should ask yourself is.
When you have your switch and you do the day 1 patch.
You start up zelda.
And after 20 min randomly zelda walks wrong lags and doesnt respond.
And in 40 min again and again etc..

Will you just think oh well maybe a later update will fix it.

Or

How fast are you returning the console?
Click to expand...

I think we'll see a surge in pro controller sales on launch day.
 
Spukc said:
The question you should ask yourself is.
When you have your switch and you do the day 1 patch.
You start up zelda.
And after 20 min randomly zelda walks wrong lags and doesnt respond.
And in 40 min again and again etc..

Will you just think oh well maybe a later update will fix it.

Or

How fast are you returning the console?
Click to expand...

Not sure if poster is spoiling Zelda being playable or just doesnt know anything about the franchise
 
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