Dbrand Offers Replacement Killswitch Joy-Con Grips for Switch 2

Dbrand has announced that it will send replacement Killswitch Joy-Con Grips to customers after acknowledging a “spectacularly terrible response” to complaints regarding the controllers detaching from the console under specific conditions. The company is also working on modifications to the grips to address these concerns.

Recently, some users reported that the Joy-Con controllers for the Switch 2 could detach when the console was held primarily by a Joy-Con while using the Killswitch case and grips. This issue is illustrated in detail in a recent post short video.

On Sunday, Dbrand released a comprehensive response, exceeding 4,000 words, titled “Killswitch Joy-Con Detachment Update.” In this statement, the company asserted that “nobody routinely holds their Switch 2 like this.” Dbrand explained that the detachment issue occurs only when all three of the following conditions are met:

You are specifically holding onto the console from only the Joy-Cons, in such a way that your fingers are making no supportive contact with the main console, and

you are holding the Switch 2 with only one hand, and

your Switch 2 is held more parallel to the ground than not.

The design of the Killswitch case contributes to the problem, as the Joy-Con grips wrap around the inner part of the Joy-Con, creating a small lip. Dbrand stated, “By adding those lips, particularly the ones on the interior face of the Joy-Cons, we filled the ‘air gap’ between the Joy-Cons and the Main Case.” This design can lead to increased leverage against the main tablet part of the console, resulting in detachment under specific conditions.

In some instances of detachment highlighted on Reddit, Dbrand noted that the Joy-Con grips had “an inner attachment lip that’s a hair thicker than desired.” The company has since adjusted its tolerance guidelines for mass production to filter out any Joy-Cons that exceed the threshold of “lip is 0.12mm too thick.”

For users concerned about potential issues, Dbrand has encouraged them to contact support and describe their regular use scenarios that lead to detachment. The company plans to provide replacement grips to affected users in July.

Several commentators More than one commenter have noted that Dbrand’s response echoed the infamous handling of the iPhone 4 antenna issues by Steve Jobs and Apple. In a follow-up post, Dbrand stated that it would adopt a new communication strategy, aiming to use fewer words and placing less blame on users. The company also offered to send replacement sets of Joy-Con Grips to all customers, regardless of whether they have experienced the detachment issue.

In their statement, Dbrand acknowledged, “As easy as it is to boil our original post down to ‘you’re holding it wrong,’ what we’re sober to now is the point that you should be allowed to hold it however the fuck you want, without detachment occurring.” They further encouraged users to continue voicing their criticisms over the next several months.

Dbrand is currently developing two new versions of the grips: one featuring “an even thinner retaining lip compared to the ‘good’ stock we’ve already shipped,” and another with a new retaining lip design that the company claims will “fully resolve the detachment issue.” However, the second option will not be ready for a mass production trial until July 10th, at which point Dbrand will determine which option will be used for replacements.

Customers can expect further updates from Dbrand on July 10th.