As another day breaks, so does news that a console giant—this time, Sony—is potentially facing a class action lawsuit revolving around faulty control pads.

DualSense "Drift" Rears Its Ugly Head

There's no getting away from the fact that Sony broke the mold with the PS5's DualSense control pad. Quite literally, in fact, given how Sony embossed all those PlayStation symbols on the pad's chassis.

However, a statement from US law firm CSK&D (Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith) tells us that a class action may be on the horizon for Sony. Why? Because, like Nintendo's Joy-Cons, PS5 owners are reporting thumb stick drift.

If you have followed coverage of the Joy-Con drift class action saga that Nintendo is facing, then you may recognize the CSK&D moniker. That's because it is one of the law firms that is also suing Nintendo.

What Does the Class Action Say?

In its statement, CSK&D says:

CSK&D is investigating a potential class action based upon reports that Sony PS5 DualSense controllers for the PlayStation 5 console can experience drift issues and/or fail prematurely. Specifically, it is reported that the joystick on certain PS5 DualSense controllers will automatically register movement when the joystick is not being controlled and interfere with gameplay.

So, as with the Nintendo Joy-Con, the joysticks on the DualSense are suffering from premature wear. Components that keep the joystick in position when idle are deteriorating, hence the pad registers movement without player interaction.

What Is DualSense Drift?

When you move the thumb stick on your DualSense, this registers movement with the PS5 console and translates this to action on screen. This is how a DualSense controller works, under normal circumstances and when it is at peak health.

You'll know immediately if your DualSense thumb sticks are drifting. How? Because your PS5 will start behaving as though you are using the thumb stick even though you're not even touching it.

So, your character may move around the screen without your input, or the cursor might cycle through menu options without you touching the sticks. Either way, you don't want DualSense drift to happen.

What Can You Do About DualSense Drift?

If your control pad has drift issues, then what you can do is contact PlayStation Support and arrange a return. Sony only released the PS5 in November 2020, so you're in warranty.

Be aware that PS Support's hotlines are likely to be very busy, though; it will be receiving calls relating to PS5 console issues, too.

Are Modern Controllers Good Quality?

playstation dualsense controller

You can make as much fuss as you like around your controller but, if it stops working, then all the magnificent features you're hyping become obsolete.

As we see more controllers and more uses for them across multiple platforms, it is up to console designers and manufacturers to ensure that components are up to scratch before releasing them. Nobody wants a game console they can't play on.