Xbox Series S/X Controllers - Stick Drift Manufacturing Issues

Dan Smithyy · Jul 3, 2022

Hi all,

Myself, a number of my friends and it seems A LOT of people online are having issues with the Xbox Series S/X Controllers. The common problem seems to be stick drift. These controllers are literally breaking left, right and center. For people not familiar, stick drift is where the analog sticks essentially move on their own. My issue for instance is the left analog stick constantly holds as if I was trying to scroll down. This means I can't choose menu options, automatically move in games like Call of Duty Warzone and generally have a terrible experience trying to use my Xbox Series X.

People are getting these issues from day 1 out of the box, a few weeks, and a few months down the line.

Now these controllers aren't cheap but Xbox refuse to help or support this issue, other than telling you to buy a new one, which is unacceptable.

There's two points to this:

A large number of people are experiencing this issue which essentially makes it a manufacturing issue with these controllers, especially as people are experiencing it out of the box with no wear & tear.

Xbox are being sued by law firm, Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith over stick drift manufacturing issues.

If you live in the UK, you ARE covered by The Consumer Rights Act 2015 as the controllers have a manufacturing issue, are not fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality. In fact, you're covered up to 6 years to bring a claim against the retailer you purchased your controller from.

I have tried to deal with Xbox Customer Support and as I write this I've been waiting 1 hour and 15 minutes to get through to someone on the phone, AGAIN. I was given a case number 45 days ago and never received a reply to it.

Xbox want to bury this issue and quite frankly, I've had enough. Xbox need to acknowledge this or I'll be building a website and case against them to fight for people with this issue until they recognise it and resolve it. It is NOT ok to sell defective products and then expect people to go out and buy another controller.

Please let me know if you've experienced this issue and if it would be ok to use your response as evidence of the case.

:)

Stiff77_490

Unboxed my Series X in October. Stick drift within a month. My Xbox 360 Elite controller still works flawlessly after nearly 15 years.

The new controllers are garbage.

Richard Knowles1

I have bought five new controllers for my Xbox series X game console. ON the Sniper Ghost Contract games 1 and 2 my controller shoots automatically with the left stick. Once you try to hold your breath and lock to shoot an opponent the controller sticks. This is a new problem for me other then the drifting of an old controller. Has anyone else complained about this issues.

SilasJohn2001

I would avoid Xbox Series X/S controllers. My first controller that came with my Series X developed that same issue. After ignoring it for a while (because I play shooters where "A" jumps once) it developed a stick drift. It was internal, and had nothing to do with the actually stick, I later found out. Then every button started double pressing, triple pressing. After figuring out I couldn't get it replaced, I disassembled it and made sure everything was clean and clicked into place. It was. Just blew through ANOTHER Series XS controller after less than 4 months. This time my left stick can't reach full velocity when pushed forward, (which has nearly killed me in Resident Evil, like a thousand times).

So, based on my experience, I can tell you this is very normal for this particular xbox controller.

Shaggy2000

recently bought 2 xbox controller to play on pc.

Both have the same right stick drift from beginning... what a waste of time...thinking about to buy another brand

All manufacturers controllers can suffer from drift, Nintendo is possibly the worst with the infamous Switch drift

ianvin

Unfortunately the above did not help. This is a common issue among many with the controllers for the series X and S. Microsoft needs to really put their things together and go for a patch and better controllers. I am close to getting rid of the console because of all these issues. I had drifting, I had connectivity problem and now this. It's a shame that nowadays controllers appear to be such rubbish. Used the controllers for my ps4 pro for years and never had an issue. However, the series x/s ones seen quite inferior.... Sad story

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