Two days ago, I helped a friend replace one joystick from a PS5 controller, it was hard to desolder without proper equipment but we managed to do it.

I was horrified at how cheap the buttons and joystick really are, the buttons are membranes or cheap PCB board buttons, the joysticks use small potentiometers and the same PCB buttons.

I was expecting something more sophisticated, especially after having assembled several mechanical keyboards with complex switches that can last for a lifetime.

Same for my 5 GameCube controllers that have been constantly used to play SSB for a quarter century vs the switch controllers that broke 3 months in and have been factory "repaired" over and over and over till I gave up.

I’ve gone through two right shoulder buttons on Xbone controllers and three left analog sticks on DualSense 2 controllers. Here’s to hoping my Steam controller fairs better.

I've had to replace the button flex on both my PS2 controllers. The joysticks might be reliable, the pressure sensitive buttons not.

Initial D

Is that a Toyota Trueno?

"Why are all my analog sticks melting?"

I ended up going through 3 or more DualShock 2 controllers when the pressure sensitivity pads or rumble motors failed. My PS3/4 and DualSense Edge controllers are still going strong though.

Edit: I haven't tried the regular DualSense controller though, and I use them on PC.