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How Long Do Controllers Typically Last You?

a lot, i still have my sixaxis controller working. however, i broke one of my DS4 (the one that came with my console), shit fell off too many times and left stick was messed up. i still kicked ass with it but damn the strain on my hand was awful
 
Forevz, yo.

I'm extremely anal with my controllers. They will only ever be the first thing I touch after thoroughly washing my hands and I clean them when need be.

And if you're thinking there's no way I'll ask you to clean your hands before using my controller... Think again, buddybromanguy.
 
Depends on the controller

N64 Controllers I went through about 6? 7? Those analog sticks would get loose so fast.

I have only two Dual Shock 3 controllers and the analog sticks have had their base ground down pretty badly. Right where the stick rubs against the shell. Nothing I really feel I need to replace, but they are wearing down.


Controller durability is one of the reasons I barley use the Wii U gamepad (other than it being awful lol). It's the only one I got and I'm sure it's not cheap to replace.
 
I've literally never had to replace a controller. Still have the 2 controllers that came with my Sega Mega Drive that both work fine. The Sixaxis that came with my 40GB PS4 almost 7 years ago still works perfectly too.
 
My original controller from the PS3 has a wonky stick that sticks sometimes when you move it, but that's the only controller I've ever had trouble with.
 
Man all you lucky guys in this thread that have never had a controller break. I had my wavebird and 2 Wiimotes break on me. I treated them well too. But at least I never had a console break.
 
I'd say that my Xbox controllers have last around a year or year and a half on average, including my day one edition which I had to replace recently.

Then again, I think I still have an original functioning N64 controller lying around the apartment so sometimes they last well beyond their generation :-)
 
A life time. The only malfunctioning controller I have is a Wiimote with a broken gyro sensor. Still works tho.

My PS1 controllers still feels fresh. :d
 
I had to replace 1 single controller in my life and that was because my idiot co-worker threw it against away after losing at FIFA.
 
As long as there are no defects the controllers last pretty much forever for me. I did bust some NES controllers as a kid, but that's about it. After a while you learn how to use controllers gently, even for tasks that might wear out parts, like pressing a button repeatedly. Controllers are pretty sturdy pieces of equipment though, so if you do manage to damage them on your own accord you're probably doing something wrong or got a defect on your hands.
 
Controllers for me tend to last forever

But in the past year or two I decided to be cheap and purchased a 3rd party Ps3 and 3rd party Wii remote.

Both broke/ceased working within 2 months.
 
A long time usually.

My current PS3 controller (which came with the PS3 when I bought it) is kinda beat up and R3 doesn't work but that's only because I played fighting games heavily on it for a couple of years. It still works otherwise though and I'm still using it.
 
never had to replace a controller or had faulty buttons on nes, gameboy, ps1, ps2, ps3, wii, psp, psvita, ps4*, wiiu

*replaced a magma red controller for ps4 because of the thumbstick problem, but technically the controller was not faulty and worked fine.
 
My entire life. My original NES controllers still work fine. My original PS1 controller is beat up and the rubber fell off one stuck but it works. With a USB adapter I use it for PC games that don't need dual analog. My PS2 controller is in better condition even though the PS2 itself sometimes doesn't detect a controller in port 1.

The lone exception was the N64 controller, whose analog sticks each became jammed with white powder after a year of regular use, but I could slow that by alternating between the other three that I owned.
 
A good quality 1st party pad will last me 3 years to a full gen.

3rd party controllers tend to have lower build quality that's why I'd never buy an arcade stick with custom parts that can't be swapped out.

PC pads have really terrible build quality, buttons wear out super fast and d-pads break easily. I've never had a good PC pad, better to just use console pads and keep a spare PC pad for games that aren't compatible with others.
 
I still have my original SNES controllers and onward. Never had a controller break on me. Ever.

EDIT: My parents still have their original NES controllers as well, which are still in excellent condition.
 
I still have Atari controllers that work fine..lol.

The last controller to "tear up" on me was when my LAUNCH Xbox 360 controller lost its rubber off the left stick LAST YEAR. Darn thing lasted over 8 years. It's still fully functional with a 3rd party grip.

Outside of loose sticks though, I've not had a controller die.
 
I've never had a controller break. the buttons eventually get tough to press or sticky, so I'll take em apart and clean with rubbing alcohol. good as new
 
So far the only controllers that have given me trouble are Xbox ones. I went through three since I got my 360 in 2008 and my Xbox One controller is already having some minor problems with the left stick (and I almost never use the thing).
All my other controllers still work like the day I got them. Even my N64 controller.
 
Generally until I'm done with the system. I've never had to replace a controller that wasn't due to my own fault. I had to buy a new Dualshock 3 because I kept dropping it on my hardwood floors and it eventually started to have issues, so I got a new one. Oddly enough, that controller started to work perfectly again a month later and I use it sometimes on my computer.
 
Forever?

I don't think I've actually ever bought a replacement controller.
The only one that has ever given me trouble was one for my 360, but I barely use the 360 anymore.
 
Usually replace 1 per generation. Generally once the sticks wear down after 3-4 years of use. N64 as the lone exception due to being in a dorm room where I probably bought 7 or 8 over the course of a couple years(needed 4-player ability plus constant replacements from dipshits that abuse the sticks and spill beer on buttons)

Always love using a new controller tho. They feel so great right out of the box.
 
Well I still got my n64 controllers that still work fine. Only first party control that I ever had to replace was my ps3 controller after about 5 years, the battery died. Wouldn't even turn on if you left it connected via USB. I hope the ps4 gets a wired controller that way I can get one of those
 
Only controller that died on me was the N64 with their shitty joystick. Never had another controller break.

One of my DS4 both thumbstick are showing signs of wear but its still perfectly usable.
 
I had a Dual Shock 3 refuse to connect which was replaced under warranty, and I replaced a Wired 360 controller that had several years of heavy use. It wasn't broken, it was just getting on a bit, sticks weren't as precise as they once were, buttons were starting to wear out etc.

First party controllers generally seem to be very well made.
 
But you guys don't use the same controller throughout a generation, right? You're like me and use one for a while until it becomes well-used, then purchase a new one and put the old one in a drawer for company to use or something?
 
OCDChewie said:
But you guys don't use the same controller throughout a generation, right? You're like me and use one for a while until it becomes well-used, then purchase a new one and put the old one in a drawer for company to use or something?
Click to expand...

My DS3 has been in use since 2008.
 
If I had to guess I'd say 3-4 years. At that point it's already worn out and shitty.
I remember replacing my busted up 360 controller it was pretty amazing.
 
OCDChewie said:
But you guys don't use the same controller throughout a generation, right? You're like me and use one for a while until it becomes well-used, then purchase a new one and put the old one in a drawer for company to use or something?
Click to expand...

I generally wind up with 2-3 controller per system, and rotate them in while charging the other.
 
OCDChewie said:
But you guys don't use the same controller throughout a generation, right? You're like me and use one for a while until it becomes well-used, then purchase a new one and put the old one in a drawer for company to use or something?
Click to expand...

Nope. Before the advent of wireless controllers I was predominantly using the same controller all the time thats plugged into the 1P port pretty much unmoved(baring Psycho Mantis forcing me to do otherwise). These days I just use whichever I randomly pick up but either way I've never had to replace one for the length of a generation and beyond. I'm even still regularly using the Sega Saturn controller I've had since 1996.
 
I do not have good luck with Sony controllers. I've had to replace my original controller for every Playstation and my DS4's left analog stick is falling apart too. Also, every secondary controller that I bought for the 360 had faulty analog sticks, but in this case the original controller worked perfectly for the entire lifespan.

But no, before that I don't think I had a problem with a bad controller.
 
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