How long does your gamepad lasts you?

[DustyVonErich]

PS3 and 360 controllers still working great.

Same for PS4 controllers except for the connection to charge in one that I simply bent back into place with a tweezer to get taking charges again.

PS Move controllers work great and still get use. My kids and I love those old style light gun games and Sports Champions.

My two PS5 controllers obviously working well. No loose components or issues from fighting haptics lol.

I did lose my Amazon Fire controller during a move, which still stings. That thing cost $70 at the time.

 

[Mathieran]

N64 was the only controller that I ever had issues with regularly. Those damn thumb sticks wore out so fast.

I had one DualShock 4 go bad on me in the whole gen, but the rest all were fine. I bought 2 somewhere in the middle after the revised models came out.

 

[julia crawford]

Hum forever? I never needed to replace any controller and only like earlier his year did my ps3 controller start getting wonky

 

[Dreamboum]

the only controller that broke was the ps3 controller but its build quality is non-existent

 

[Dyno]

The life of the system. Unless its an xbox elite controller. Then as long as it takes for the rubber to fall off, buttons to not work or bumpers to break, so a couple months.

 

[DPB]

It depends, now it's usually about 4 years or so.

DS2s weren't reliable for me, one stopped responding altogether and another had so much drift it would scroll through menus without any input.

My Gamecube controller still works fine, but the rubber on the left stick has perished after years of barely being used.

I had a wired 360 controller that lasted for ages but the cable became loose so it would disconnect if you didn't have it straight. The Xbox One controller I bought to replace it didn't last long before the thin piece of plastic holding the RB button snapped. Apparently this was a common issue with that model, even with the Elite. I've had a newer one for a couple of years now which seems okay.

My original DS4 still works, but the left stick feels creaky rather than smooth.

 

[OrangeNova]

The only controllers I've ever had to replace were broken from misuse or accidents(dropped, spilled on, etc)

I still have my original NES controllers, my SNES controllers, my N64 Controller, all my original Playstation controllers.

I'd like to replace the sticks in my PS2/Xbox/360 controllers because the rubber is gummy/sticky now, but otherwise they're good to go.

 

[cowbanana]

They last a long-ass time. My PS2 and PS3 controllers still work. My PS4 controllers still work as well.

Only recently did my age-old wired 360 controller, that I've used on my PC, start drifting. The tops of the thumbsticks are almost worn half-down.

Nintendo Switch joy-cons are the only controllers I've owned that I'd call straight up trash. Heavy drift in less than 6 months of light use by me.

Every other controller I own has seen thousands of hours of use by myself, friends, kids and friends of kids.

 

[Lightning Count]

Forever.

I've only replaced one controller which was for the PS3, some milk got spilled into it.

 

[.exe]

Xbox 360 5+ years and still works well overall. The right bumper used to be a little a sticky but then unstuck itself after a while.

Xbox One 5+ years so far. Developed issues with the D-pad after a few years that also cleared themselves up somehow. The motor in the right trigger makes a nasty sound but still works.

Joycons have been not great. The left one started drifting after two years, then its replacement also a year later, and the right Joycon started getting fussy around the same time.

Switch Pro's left stick occasionally goes a little haywire but it's infrequent. Got it at launch.

 

[LumberPanda]

The only gamepads I've had problems with were my 3DS (rubber on the circle pad breaking off) after ~5 years, and joycon drift after ~2 years (replaced the analog stick myself).

 

[Croc Man]

Ps1 controllers lasted about a year, PS2 longer. Everything else forever.

 

[DarrenM]

Other than rubber eventually wearing away on the thumb sticks, I've never had an issue with any controller. My launch PS4 did have to get a warranty repair because the rubber on those sticks just melted within 6 months, the replacement lasted much longer.

That said, I'm not confident my PS5 or SX controllers will still be good by the time next gen comes along. These controllers are not as well built as they used to be

 

[dawid22]

Other than drift issues on the Joy-Con controllers, I've always been very light on controllers. It lasts forever. My wife on the other hand - she destroys the analogue sticks. Not sure how she does it, but it seems that some people are just harder on controllers than others.

 

[Antony]

wow I'm shocked with the replies, it seems I should treat my controller better then :'(

Click to shrink...

I haven't replaced a single one in 30 years of gaming.
This really might just be a 'you' thing :'(


EDIT: I bought a second hand PS2 which came with a dodgy controller that eventually stopped registering X button presses. I think that counts!

 

[scare_crow]

Yikes, OP. I think it's you. 😬

 

[BasilZero]

-SNES controller - sold back in 2001
-N64 controller - still working, last tested in 2018, had it since 1998
-GCN controller - drifting issues started occurring in 2016 , had it since 2001
-Wiimote - no issues, had it since 2008
-WiiU controllers - no issues, had it since 2014
-Switch pro controller - no issues, had it since 2020, never used joycons

-PS2 controller - drifting issues started back in 2018, had it since 2003
-PS3 controller - drifting issues started occurring back in 2019, had it since 2011
-PS4 controllers - have two , once since 2015 and one in 2017 - no issues

Xbox 360 wired controller - bought in 2013, started having connectivity issues in 2016 , haven't used it since

 

[Crayon]

The only trouble I've ever had is with switch controllers. My nes controllers still work perfectly fine.

Actually, my steam controller is 6 or 7 years old and the paddle and trackpad clocks are getting unreliable. Like the contacts are oxidized or something.

 

[Daddy JeanPi]

I can proudlu say they last the entire generation and i've never thrown a gamepad in a rage.

I'd like to add that my retro consoles also have their original controllers from back in the day and they work flawlessly.

 

[Deleted member 24021]

I'm still using my Dualshock 4 and Xbox One controller I got in 2014. I regularly clean my controllers and I make sure not to press the sticks or triggers too hard when I need to. I'm still using my Xbox 360 controller from 2009 too, but the bumpers are starting to feel stiff on that one.

The only time in recent memory that a controller failed on me was a different Xbox One controller that had a faulty stick from the factory.

 

[tatwo]

Forever. But when I used to play Trackmania daily I destroyed analog stick within 6 months. It becomes too loose and increasing deadzone doesn't help.

 

[Fawz]

Only time I switched my Game Pad because it broke was the PS3 one and way back when the N64 ones I'd get new ones for group play and avoid older ones that had loose joysticks

 

[raketenrolf]

Usually the whole gen, but my launch Joy-Cons kinda become unusable.

Random disconnects, drift, right Joy-Con can't be used as a single controller anymore.

And they are the worst, yet most expensive controllers of all current consoles.

 

[Kyrios]

The only time I replace controllers is when there's a new color that I want.

 

[Jafin]

I've been using my original Sixaxis controller from my PS3 since 2008. I use it every single day to play games on my laptop. I did retire it for about two years and got a used DualShock 3 instead, but that broke a few months ago so I transferred the battery from the DS3 into the Sixaxis and have been back using it since with no issues.

 

[saintjules]

Last time I had an issue was a drift on my DS4. Noticed when playing Bloodborne for the first time. Before then, a SNES Controller I think...Other than that I've generally been fine with all of my controllers.

 

[HanSoloCup]

I still have my PS1 and PS2 controllers, so...

 

[Jolkien]

The whole console life span ? Had to replace my Dualsense but it was defective it was nothing I did.

 

[Deleted member 8752]

I have two NES controllers that have lasted me 30 years and counting. It's kind of nuts how durable they are. But they're also very simple in terms of construction compared to modern pads.

I have like 50 controllers and most are over a decade old with no issues. My launch joycons, on the other hand, lasted me like 3 years before I noticed drift.

 

[Holyoneturtle]

I play maybe 10-20 hrs a week of gaming and I need to change my controllers every 2-3 years. Especially since the ps4 era. Never have I bought so many controllers before that.

 

[Xwing]

Almost all of my controllers still work, however, after roughly 4 years of semi-frequent use, most analog sticks start to feel a bit loose and slightly less responsive, so that's usually when I "retire" them. Off the top of my head, this happened with my original PS3 controller and with my original Xbox One controller.

Interestingly, despite using my launch Switch Pro controller pretty frequently for the last 4 years, I've still not had any analog stick problems with it. I feel incredibly lucky because the analog sticks seem to be one of the most common criticisms of Switch controllers generally.

Edit: I just recalled the last time I had a controller actually fully break on me: N64, I went through 2 whole controllers on that console because the stick was so fragile.

 

[Protagonist]

Never had any issues with any of my controllers from PS1 all the way to PS5.

 

[Oaklight]

I am very surprised at the replies in this thread. I've gone through like 3 switch pro controllers. 4 sets of joy cons, and 5 xbox controllers in the last 5 years. What's interesting is that it's always the same problem in all of these controllers with that being left stick drift and the RB/R button not responding anymore.

Although the Rb/R problem is probably exclusively my 1000 + hours In Monster Hunter so that probably is why lol.

 

[Pancracio17]

Idk if its just Nintendos build quality, but both my joy cons and my pro controller have had drift this generation. The pro controller took like 3 years, but its definitely there.

 

[corasaur]

I had to replace some joycon sticks but other than that i don't think I've ever had to chuck a controller. I lost the rubber from a gamecube controller's joystick eventually after multiple smash games.

 

[turbobrick]

Forever. Never had to replace one.

 

[Aronleon]

Seeing that my nes controller and Zapper still work I say forever, the only time I had to change a PS3 controler was because a faulty stick.

 

[astro]

My gamepads last me ages, mostly....

My single DS4 lasted me for years, my Switch hasn't fallen to Drift yet (and I play it a lot...), and my Steam Controller still feels brand new (bought it when they went on sale for a fiver a while back).

The only pads I've had issue with were Xbox one pads, which died to drift. I got a new Series X pad and it feels super sturdy, I really hope it lasts longer than the One did as it's very comfy to use and looks great (design lab).

 

[Yourfawthaaa]

Years.

I still have Dreamcast controllers that work fine.

 

[Deleted member 36578]

It's very very rare I have to get a new controller. They last throughout my time with the consoles at which point I sell the console for the next Gen.

 

[Boy]

The only ones i had to replace were the ones that came with my ps3, and ps4. They started having joystick drifting issues.

 

[daninthemix]

Couple of months before they get all gunked up in Wotsit and Dorito dander.

 

[ElNino]

For controllers I use, they almost always last the full generation and more. I still have my OG Xbox launch and most of my Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii and PS4 controllers.

For controllers my kids use... they last significantly shorter and it's why I now segregate controllers that are available to everyone and those that I control the usage of.

 

[Tohsaka]

I've never had a controller just stop working completely.

 

[Lagamorph]

The wired Xbox 360 pad I got with a launch day 360 is only just getting retired. And that's just because of the cable starting to split rather than the pad.

I have a Wireless Halo ODST 360 pad that's still going fine.

 

[Torpedo Vegas]

Only had one Xbox, original - Series X controller break, and it was my fault. I still use a wired 360 controller I bought 2 weeks before the 360 launched on my PC.

I've had less luck with Playstation controllers. I went through a bunch on PS3 because the battery would stop holding a charge and I had a PS5 controller get the worst case of analog drift I had ever seen in my life.

Never since the NES have I had to replace a Nintendo controller.

 

[emperor bohe]

I think one of my 3 button Genesis controllers broke otherwise all of my controllers still work going back to NES

 

[IIFloodyII]

I usually like to replace after 3 or 4 years, just because a new controller feels good, but my controllers usually last the gen.

 

[Watevaman]

The only controller i remember having trouble with was one of my Dualshock 3s and that was a dead battery. I can't remember having any of my other controllers from NES up having trouble.

 

[bounchfx]

Never had to replace a pad.

that being said my xsx left rumble got me a little worried as of yesterday when playing forza. Everything functions fine but the sound is higher pitched than normal