Update 6/9/23: Added AliExpress link and pricing due to the Joysticks being on sale there.
Are you experiencing any occurances in games where it seems like your camera is moving on its own without you touching the joysticks? Then you might be a victim of the dreaded stick drift. Stick Drift is when a controller develops enough wear and tear, or is dirty, that it causes inputs to be registered without you doing anything. This has been most prevalent on the Joy Con controllers on the Switch, but it can happen on the Steam Deck too. Thankfully, GuliKit is here!
GuliKit, a design-driven accessory maker, released a joystick module that can replace your current ones! Using their patents, these joysticks are smooth, draw less power, and utilize a patented design, which makes stick drift significantly harder to develop. The design they use relates to the Hall Effect, which uses magnets to track positional data. As opposed to analog sticks, the Hall Effect magnets are much less likely to wear down and have a longer shelf life. On top of that, they don't need a dead zone since they aren't accommodating for any drift, which ends up making them much more responsive.
The first version GuliKit released required Soldering, or using a tool to fuse metal pieces together, but a new version was shown off that not only does away with Soldering completely, but also utilizes 50% less power than the older model and is compatible with both Type A and Type B joysticks (the two types that could be used in your Steam Deck).
Thanks to the lack of Soldering in this new model, installation is much easier. Essentially, you will just need to open the back cover, take out the joystick module cable, remove the old and screw in the new joysticks, then choose the correct type and calibrate! After that, you put the back cover on and you're good to go. It might seem like a lot, but I can say it is way easier than needing to solder!
GuliKit does have an Amazon store where it will more than likely go on sale, but you can buy them now on AliExpress for $34.99 (there is a 20% off sale right now though)! Regardless, this is extremely exciting and I can't wait to try these out for myself.
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Ah yes my comment asking whether or not the Gulikit sticks retain the capacitive function of the original's was not allowed to post because, oh that's right, Gulikit pays SHQ to advertise. What a joke of a website.
We have accepted no payment for this article or any advertisements here. If there is, we will state it clearly that this is sponsored. In this case, we are just reporting.
Gulikit stick suffers large outer deadzone (shorter travel range) because the voltage output from their stick is wider than Valve stock stick. Generally using their stick the output saturates at 70% stick travel. They did not say anything on the product page but their customer support admit the issue. Not sure if this is fixed in 2nd gen
Does these replacement sticks from Gulikit retain the capacitive touch of the OEM sticks? If I remember correctly, the Gen 1 Gulikit's that needed soldering did not have capacitive touch. I like and use capacitive touch.
The Gen 1 sticks did have capacitive touch, that's what the soldering was for. The Gen 1 had you reuse the stock stick covers, which meant you had to solder the wire for capacitive touch from the cover to the Gulikit board if you wanted touch to still work. With the Gen 2 Gulikit is including replacement stick covers pre installed with the wire already soldered on (that's what the red wire in the picture is).
You can buy them on their AliExpress store, "GuliKit Official Store".
I will check and add it in than! Thank you for the heads up.