I have always associated Thrustmaster with their steering wheels and racing simulator sets, which have long had a good reputation for being high-quality and feature-rich. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I got the chance to take a look at their latest model of hand-held controllers for Xbox and PC, the hot-swappable Thrustmaster eSwap X2 Pro Wired Controller. This unique controller has the selling point of being able to swap and replace parts depending on your preferences and game requirements. In addition, we also received the Thrustmaster eSwap X Racing Module, which allows you to place a small steering wheel wherever you like into one of the pluggable positions on the controller. However, while we enjoyed a lot about the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 Pro Wired Controller, we’re not convinced it justifies the price.
“The controller’s configurable and hot-swappable parts set it apart and provide value compared to other pro controllers today.”
The Thrustmaster eSwap X2 Pro Wired Controller is slightly larger than the standard Xbox controller but lighter and smaller than the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2. At first glance, the controller’s design isn’t particularly impressive. Its black plastic outer shell and painted pieces look similar to some of the cheaper controllers available on the market. It doesn’t provide the premium controller vibe compared to others, like the Xbox Elite series. However, this changes once you hold the device in your hands and feel the sturdiness. Fortunately, if you still can’t get past the overall look, there are plenty of third-party accessories that allow you to change the controller’s coloring and look to give it more appeal.
Of course, its looks aren’t really the unique selling point. Rather, the controller’s configurable and hot-swappable parts set it apart and provide value compared to other pro controllers today. Changing the controller’s configuration and replacing parts when worn out or damaged make for more cost-effective and sustainable device management than replacing the entire device.
The two S5 NXG mini-stick modules feel exemplary to use and have a strong reputation for being extremely accurate. They include configurable thumb pads to change depending on your game of choice, and they screw in tightly—a great feature compared to some controllers that pop on and off. Some reported stick drift after prolonged use has been reported, and a lack of hall-effect functionality does not prevent the stick drift from happening. However, being modular, you can purchase new stick modules if that occurs.
“You have a mini steering wheel with a 95-degree turning angle and auto-centering system to give some simulation of a steering wheel.”
The mechanical and bubbly D-pad is simple and built for responsiveness and comfort. It’s swappable anywhere on the controller that makes sense to you. However, I’ve yet to find a use case for having it on the right side of the controller, as that obviously goes against the basic foundations of controller design.
Four additional buttons can be remapped at the back of the controller, depending on your game. However, I found these in unnatural positions for my larger hands and struggled to understand how smaller hands would find these buttons when playing games. Compared to other controllers with additional mappable triggers that feel natural, my fingers would slip or struggle to find the additional buttons.
The Racing Module is another module that can be swapped in and out depending on your game. Once plugged in and ready for your favorite racing game, you have a mini steering wheel with a 95-degree turning angle and auto-centering system to give some simulation of a steering wheel.
Thrustmaster eSwap X2 – Image Credit Thrustmaster
Lastly, this is a wired controller. While this makes sense for precision and performance gaming, having a wireless option for casual gaming would make this a more usable and appealing controller. I like to sit back on the couch and play, and I don’t want to be playing with a long cable across the room to do this.
“One negative aspect of the Thrustmaster eSwap X2’s overall feel is the lack of texture on the controller grips.”
Fortunately, I enjoyed gaming with this controller. It felt comfortable in my hands, the sticks gripped well without any slippage, and the responsiveness of the buttons was the perfect advantage I needed to clutch a win. The mechanical buttons give a great sense of control, and their short actuation contributes to this competitive-feeling controller. Additionally, two switches behind the triggers allow you to adjust the travel distance to a shorter, more rapid-fire that was noticeably more responsive, depending on the game I was playing.
However, one negative aspect of the device’s overall feel is the lack of texture on the controller grips. Most controllers now have something to help stop the hands from getting sweaty and slipping while holding them, but by default, this controller is entirely smooth. With swappable grips, you can purchase different textures. However, this should have definitely been the default.
Thrustmaster eSwap Racing Module – Image Credit Thrustmaster
The Thrustmaster eSwap X Racing Module is a cool new way to play racing games through its mini steering wheel. This module is more of a gimmick than something I would regularly use, as it didn’t give me a natural feel for racing games. My fingers occasionally slip, or I’d find adjusting to the auto-recentering functionality challenging. Without force feedback, such as on the Thrustmaster steering wheels, and with limited range on the steering wheel, I still preferred using the standard controller settings.
“The real power comes with the Thrustmapper software, which allows you to configure the controller in advanced ways.”
Integration and configuration are some of the focus points of this pro controller. Without any software, you can easily map the paddle buttons through some easy configuration steps. One painful limitation of this configuration is that you can only use 2 configurable modes, which means unless you play only 2 different configuration sets, you will likely change things manually all the time.
The real power comes with the Thrustmapper software, which allows you to configure the controller in advanced ways. You can adjust stick sensitivity and dead zones, trigger dead zones, and vibration intensity. You can even configure the steering wheel module through the Thrustmapper software. I found the software straightforward to use and easy to craft and tune to what felt most comfortable for me, and it met my requirements for a pro controller.
“The Thrustmaster eSwap X2 will meet your expectations if you want a professional, high-accuracy controller.”
At AU$267, the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 Pro Wired Controller is expensive for a pro controller. I would expect a flawless controller for this pricing, but unfortunately, this device is not that. It is not wireless and still requires a long cable. It has poorly placed trigger buttons and does not have hall-effect sticks.
When you look at the Xbox Elite Series controller, which might not have the modularity but still has many great features and goes for a lower price, it makes it a tough comparison. Depending on what you are after and whether the modularity of the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 is important, you will likely find comparable controllers for better pricing.
The eSwap Racing Module, which adds the steering wheel functionality to the controller, costs AU$ 62. This is a premium cost for a small gimmick feature that you may not use very often. While it may add fun to your racing gameplay, do not expect it to provide a realistic racing experience.
However, this excellent-performing device will meet your expectations if you want a professional, high-accuracy controller. The controller fits comfortably in your hands, and once you become used to swapping the modules for different games, you’ll find it hard to return to a normal controller. The customization options for different colors and setups provide an exciting range of mix-and-match options for the perfect gaming controller setup.
Disclaimer: Game Crater was provided a review copy for this review.
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