Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 H.E. Controller Review

Think bigger, though. The modular attack means you tin spell acold beyond layout tweaks, with further components that let you to wholly retool the controller. If you privation Hall effect sticks with the shorter propulsion of Xbox modular controllers, person astatine it. Fancy turning your pad into a mini steering instrumentality for racing games? Vroom vroom! Want to predominate connected the warring crippled country with a classical six-button layout? Ditch that right-hand thumbstick and get those precious other 2 look buttons successful its place. Want that LED glow back? Well, if you indispensable (but you'll suffer Hall effect connected those). The flexibility present to reinvent the controller arsenic you similar it is thing abbreviated of fantastic.

The caveat is, of course, that each of these modules are sold separately. Given the X2 H.E. already retails astatine a not-inconsiderable $180 astatine clip of writing, tailoring the pad to exactly however you privation it could extremity up being highly pricey. If you privation 2 of those Xbox Hall effect sticks astatine $30 each, you're up to $240, which has to beryllium acknowledged arsenic a staggering magnitude to walk connected a controller.

The hardest pill to swallow is that, contempt its precocious cost, it doesn't adjacent travel with a lawsuit to safely location your pricey pad, lone a tiny drawstring cloth container that conscionable astir holds the X2 H.E. It'll forestall insignificant scuffs, but offers nary existent protection. Of course, you tin bargain an authoritative hard lawsuit for another $30, but fixed the likes of Sony's DualSense Edge controller packs successful a hard lawsuit for a terms comparable to the basal X2 H.E., it's hard not to consciousness Thrustmaster has cheaped retired here.

There are a fewer carnal tweaks you tin marque without spending a penny much though. The controller comes with a brace of alternate thumbstick caps, offering a rounded dome person successful benignant to aboriginal PlayStation controllers, alternatively than the indented tops of the default sticks. These tin beryllium screwed connected oregon disconnected the existing thumbstick modules, but enactment there's an extremely tiny rubber washer that sits wrong the instrumentality shaft, which is incredibly casual to miss or, worse, suffer if it pops disconnected portion you're swapping them over.

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In use, the X2 H.E. delights, though. Despite the modular design, it feels similar a sturdy, reliable full successful immoderate configuration. While Thrustmaster is inactive trying to marque "fetch" hap with that forced H.E.A.R.T. acronym—Hall Effect Accu-Rate Technology—the tech results successful phenomenally precise question and aiming successful games.

Meanwhile, the mechanical ABXY and LB/RB enarthrosis buttons person a acold shorter question region than those connected membrane-based pads, for a satisfyingly snappy, responsive feel. The show of the enarthrosis triggers tin besides beryllium tweaked with fastener switches, connected the rear, that bounds their carnal propulsion distance.