App to Test Stick Drift on Controllers
With major rumors hinting the new (e.g. PS6) console is set to release as early as Fall 2027, no doubt most console owners and players on controllers have heard of the stick drifts on controllers, on controllers of any platform. Current generation of consoles were released in 2020, so it wouldn’t be so surprising more controllers are facing the issue now than ever.
Gamepad Tester from HardwareTester.com is a freely available web app that can be launched from any major browsers. Simply connect the controller via wire to a computer with the browser and open the website. If there is stick drift, the tester would pick it up as a continuous input to certain angle on the analog stick.
As far as I could find on the subject of stick drift, there is no permanent fix a user can do with ease. Even the DIY stick replacement, after an arduous process that is clearly not meant to be done at home, does not guarantee the mechanical wear won’t happen again. It seemed, from what I can gather, the only real fix is to have a replaceable analog stick like DualSense Edge. I’m afraid, considering the battery lifespan and other components that may degrade over time, wireless controllers do have a lifespan after which the only option is to buy a new one.