Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 HE Controller Review

Think bigger, though. The modular approach means you can go beyond layout modifications, with additional components that allow you to completely retool the console. If you want the Hall Effect to persist with the shorter range of standard Xbox controllers, It has it in it. Would you like to turn your pillow into a mini steering wheel for racing games? Vroom vroom! Want to dominate the fighting game scene with a classic six-button layout? Get rid of the right thumb stick and Get those two valuable extra face buttons In his place. Do you want your LED to glow again? Good, If you must (But you’ll miss the Hall effect on those.) The flexibility here to reinvent the controller however you want it to be is nothing short of amazing.

The caveat is, of course, that all of these units are sold separately. Since the X2 HE already retails for a ridiculous $180 at the time of writing, the board is designed to fit exactly The way you want it, it can end up very expensive. If you want two Xbox Hall Effect kits at $30 each, you’ve got yourself up to $240, which has to be admitted as a staggering amount to spend on a console.

The hardest pill to swallow is that despite its high cost, it doesn’t come with a case to safely house your precious pad, just a small drawstring bag that holds approximately the X2 HE, which will prevent minor frictions, but offers no real protection. Of course, you can buy Official hard case to last $30, but with the likes of Sony’s DualSense Edge controller sporting a hard case priced similarly to the base X2 HE, it’s hard not to feel like the Thrustmaster has gone cheap here.

There are some physical modifications you can make without spending a penny more. The console comes with a pair of replacement joystick caps, providing a rounded dome closer in style to early PlayStation controllers, rather than the indented tops of the virtual sticks. They can be installed on or off on existing joystick units, but note that there are… To the fullest extent A small rubber washer sits inside the stick shaft, which is very easy to miss or, worse, lose if it comes off while you’re swapping it.

Enhanced performance

In use, the X2 HE delights, though. Despite the modular design, it feels like a sturdy and reliable unit in any configuration. While Thrustmaster is still trying to achieve “fetch” operation using the forced HEART acronym – Hall Effect Accu-Rate Technology – the technology results in exceptionally accurate movement and aiming in games.

Meanwhile, the mechanical ABXY and LB/RB shoulder buttons have a much shorter travel distance than those on membrane-based pads, for a responsive and satisfying feel. The performance of the shoulder triggers can also be adjusted using the locking switches on the rear, which limit the actual pull distance.