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How Long Do Controllers Typically Last You?
- Thread starter User 479360
- Start date
Hoho for breakfast
Member
A PS4 controller? Or a normal controller?
SystemUser
Member
My controllers usually last a few decades. I think I have retired about 3 controllers out of about 60 in the last 30 years. My Playstation 4 launch DualShock 4's will probably only last about 5 years though.
Having a destructive, snoopy little niece means that basically all of our PS3 controllers no longer work. Thankfully she mostly grew out of that. Mostly.
The other current gen (previous gen?) controllers all work, and I expect them to work for the foreseen future. One 360 controller has gone out for no reason, but that's one out of three.
I had temper issues as a kid, so most of my Gamecube controllers were abused and no longer work.
The other current gen (previous gen?) controllers all work, and I expect them to work for the foreseen future. One 360 controller has gone out for no reason, but that's one out of three.
I had temper issues as a kid, so most of my Gamecube controllers were abused and no longer work.
SoulUnison
Banned
I've never had a controller break down from wear and tear.
For that matter, I've never had one break from negligence, either.
Closest thing I've got is N64 controllers with the typical loose control stick.
For that matter, I've never had one break from negligence, either.
Closest thing I've got is N64 controllers with the typical loose control stick.
Beren the Empty-Handed
Member
Forever, and ever, we never will part.
LegalEagleMike
Member
i usually replace the analog sticks every couple years as they wear down.
User 479360
Banned
I should clarify, because there seems to be some confusion:
I'm not breaking controllers. I've only ever had one shoulder button break on me from use, as well as a PS4 controller that had a stuck button.
When I said I've gone through several, I mean that I've used them well and have moved on to a new controller because of worn out rubber or the controller getting dirty from when I used to use hand sanitizer and wash my hands too much beforehand. Or I've sold or given it away with a used console.
The controller that had a broken shoulder button was a free one from MSFT, because they quoted me the American repair price and not the Canadian one. It came in an envelope, and I sanitized it well, so it may have been a refurb. I used it for about 2-2.5 years before part of the RB button started to stop responding.
I take better care of my stuff than almost anyone else I've seen. Trust me.
That said, when I was a young kid and my OCD was starting, my grandmother had told me I should wash my hands well to avoid Jimmy and Johnny Germ. I thought my SNES controllers were dirty, so I tried rinsing them under water to clean them. lol
I'm not breaking controllers. I've only ever had one shoulder button break on me from use, as well as a PS4 controller that had a stuck button.
When I said I've gone through several, I mean that I've used them well and have moved on to a new controller because of worn out rubber or the controller getting dirty from when I used to use hand sanitizer and wash my hands too much beforehand. Or I've sold or given it away with a used console.
The controller that had a broken shoulder button was a free one from MSFT, because they quoted me the American repair price and not the Canadian one. It came in an envelope, and I sanitized it well, so it may have been a refurb. I used it for about 2-2.5 years before part of the RB button started to stop responding.
I take better care of my stuff than almost anyone else I've seen. Trust me.
That said, when I was a young kid and my OCD was starting, my grandmother had told me I should wash my hands well to avoid Jimmy and Johnny Germ. I thought my SNES controllers were dirty, so I tried rinsing them under water to clean them. lol
KDash31987
Member
My stuff never breaks or anything. I've got 30 or so year old controllers that are still in great condition.
Some stuff that my younger brother kept, like some Rock Band instruments and some Xbox 360 controllers, got pretty abused, though. They still work, but they're in bad condition. One of the drum pads on the Rock Band 1 drum kit broke off, though.
Some stuff that my younger brother kept, like some Rock Band instruments and some Xbox 360 controllers, got pretty abused, though. They still work, but they're in bad condition. One of the drum pads on the Rock Band 1 drum kit broke off, though.
User 479360
Banned
The idea for this thread was aided by a quote from Morgan Webb on X-Play that I remember. She was talking about controllers and said that there gets to be a point where they become too worn out or dirty (for those who eat and game, I guess, or use too much hand sanitizer and have sweaty hands) where it becomes time to get a new one and put the other one away for company.
I went through a ton of PS2 and Nintendo 64 controllers during my controller breaking days. I must have went through 6-8 PS2 /N64 controllers each. But everything past that I've never replaced any at all and they all work to this day.
GC - 1 Metroid Prime Platinum/Silver? standard controller, 1 wavebird.
Wii - 2 white regular old wiimote + nunchuck pairs.
Wii U - Standard Gamepad + a Red Wiimote Plus and Nunchuck pair (keep procrastinating about buying a Pro controller).
X360 - 1 Black Wireless that came with the X360 Elite, 1 White Wired for second controller/PC use.
PS3 - 1 Six Axis that came with my Fat 60GB, 1 Dualshock 3 for a second controller.
PS4 - 2 Dualshock 4s - Stock + 2nd controller. Sometimes used on my PSTV and PS3, tempted to buy a third so that I don't have to swap them back.
Memory before that is kinda fuzzy. I think it was something like this:
PS1 - 1 old stick-less standard controller, 1 Dualshock 1.
Genesis - 1 3 facepad buttons controller, 1 6 facepad buttons controller.
SNES 1-2 standard controllers, 1 transparent shell turbo controller.
NES - 2-3 standard controllers, 1 lightgun.
Basically except for the PS2/N64 Days of Rage controller destruction I've never had a controller die or fail on me during the life of the console and every controller that I still have still works. I've also only bought 1 third party controller ever. I think the SNES transparent turbo controller was third party anyways.
GC - 1 Metroid Prime Platinum/Silver? standard controller, 1 wavebird.
Wii - 2 white regular old wiimote + nunchuck pairs.
Wii U - Standard Gamepad + a Red Wiimote Plus and Nunchuck pair (keep procrastinating about buying a Pro controller).
X360 - 1 Black Wireless that came with the X360 Elite, 1 White Wired for second controller/PC use.
PS3 - 1 Six Axis that came with my Fat 60GB, 1 Dualshock 3 for a second controller.
PS4 - 2 Dualshock 4s - Stock + 2nd controller. Sometimes used on my PSTV and PS3, tempted to buy a third so that I don't have to swap them back.
Memory before that is kinda fuzzy. I think it was something like this:
PS1 - 1 old stick-less standard controller, 1 Dualshock 1.
Genesis - 1 3 facepad buttons controller, 1 6 facepad buttons controller.
SNES 1-2 standard controllers, 1 transparent shell turbo controller.
NES - 2-3 standard controllers, 1 lightgun.
Basically except for the PS2/N64 Days of Rage controller destruction I've never had a controller die or fail on me during the life of the console and every controller that I still have still works. I've also only bought 1 third party controller ever. I think the SNES transparent turbo controller was third party anyways.
crap monkey
Member
I still have my original Silver GC controller and my SNES controllers work pretty well, although the shoulder and start buttons can be iffy. My N64 controller is perfect now that I've replaced the analog sticks and use it a lot for emulators. My 360 controller is the only one that I've had to replace within a generation. I've had 3 different 360 controllers and on all of them the left Analog stick has started to drift slowly to a certain side. Leads me to believe those sticks weren't exactly great quality.
Whimsical Phil
Ninja School will help you
And risk getting water on the controller? Okay. Whatever you say, boss.
User 479360
Banned
I wash my hands well before gaming, then dry them for about 3-5 minutes. I just carry the towel around and wipe them.
However, I guess my anxiety over damaging my controllers gets the better of me, because even when I do that and go to touch my controllers or handhelds, moisture still comes out of my hands and drives me nuts.
However, I guess my anxiety over damaging my controllers gets the better of me, because even when I do that and go to touch my controllers or handhelds, moisture still comes out of my hands and drives me nuts.
I've yet to replace one, though the 360 controller I use on my PC looks like it'll be the first. Left stick is starting to develop a bit of a lean, meaning I'll sometimes get characters running up and to the left even when the stick looks to be centered.
Still, it had a damn good run, and most games still play just fine on it.
Still, it had a damn good run, and most games still play just fine on it.
Magicgamer101
Member
Full console cycles unless Fifa rage happens and I smash them to pieces and regret it later
nabe_shogun
Member
Well, I've only ever had one fail, which is a non analog ps1 controller. The d-pad sometimes doesn't work. However its still somewhat usable.
DeadlyParasite
Member
None of mine have broken or have been destroyed, but I do tend to phase out a controller after many years if it starts to build up a certain coat of grime in places that I can't clean easily like the d-pad or under the sticks.
Still using my day one XB1 controller from launch, and I have a another unused/unopened Limited Titanfall controller sitting in its package until I feel the current one is too gross.
Still using my day one XB1 controller from launch, and I have a another unused/unopened Limited Titanfall controller sitting in its package until I feel the current one is too gross.
Only issue I had with a controller this gen or the last (PS3/360/Wii/PS4/Xbone) was one of my original Sixaxis controllers. It would occasionally send a random triangle button press. Still was usable, but once they wised up on rumble and released the DS3, I didn't touch the Sixaxis.
Other than that, no issues with any of my controllers. I don't drop, toss, spill anything on them or otherwise abuse them, other than hours of gameplay. I also don't drop/break phones. I think some people just tend to drop things, perhaps that's why some people also go through controllers? Not sure.
Other than that, no issues with any of my controllers. I don't drop, toss, spill anything on them or otherwise abuse them, other than hours of gameplay. I also don't drop/break phones. I think some people just tend to drop things, perhaps that's why some people also go through controllers? Not sure.
Jawbreaker
Member
Until my little cousin decides to fuck them up.
Sounds about right for me. Even then, I might just replace the battery.
TriAceJP
Member
I find that the perspiration off of my Dew can really makes short work of the caked on Cheetos dust.
GiantEnemyCrab
Banned
My NES controllers and Zapper still work. All my other controllers work, too.
The Wii U controllers will probably fail first, due to the internal batteries.
The Wii U controllers will probably fail first, due to the internal batteries.
John Kowalski
Banned
forever? i've yet to have one fail or break
| Praxis |
Banned
Usually years... DS4 six months.
R2 button hinge broke from nothing more than normal usage.
R2 button hinge broke from nothing more than normal usage.
Then why do they last a year?
Ivory Samoan
Member
PS4 controllers - 40 hours max, break R2 button, return for new one, rinse repeat
XB1 controllers - Seemingly forever at the moment....
X360 controllers - COAT for sure, I j'adore mine for PC, and my 360 - they last 100's of hours till the thumb rubber wear off
PS3 controllers - Seemingly forever too.
XB1 controllers - Seemingly forever at the moment....
X360 controllers - COAT for sure, I j'adore mine for PC, and my 360 - they last 100's of hours till the thumb rubber wear off
PS3 controllers - Seemingly forever too.
The internal battery for the gamepad is user replaceable.
Astral/H3X
Member
My original cube controller, from my Platinum Gamecube, is still going strong, though it's just recently started developing a small looseness in the stick.
The Wavebird however maintains its glorious reign.
The Wavebird however maintains its glorious reign.
The hell? How do you manage that?
Hyrule Warrior
Member
I've never really understood how people could go through controllers so often, even controllers I've played really long ass RPGs still work fine. I still have working NES controllers from when I was 7 years old that I got in 1990, so I don't know why breaking controllers is something people do so often.
When I worked at a gamestore, I was shocked to see the condition of controllers too. I don't confess to being the tidiest person in the world, in fact I have very sweaty hands, so my controllers shouldn't stay in as good a shape as they do I feel....but never have any problems with mine.
When I worked at a gamestore, I was shocked to see the condition of controllers too. I don't confess to being the tidiest person in the world, in fact I have very sweaty hands, so my controllers shouldn't stay in as good a shape as they do I feel....but never have any problems with mine.