For probably the most half we affiliate Thrustmaster with among the most advanced of third occasion gaming equipment. That’s a degree hammered residence when you think about that we’ve beforehand been palms on with their T248 Wheel for racing or the T.Flight Full Package X for once we resolve to take to the skies. Hell, you possibly can return to 2017 and skim our ideas regarding the Thrustmaster Y-360X 7.1 Powered Ghost Recon Wildlands Version Headset for Xbox if you wish to understand how difficult issues are – even that title scares us foolish.
However that’s not stopping Thrustmaster from persevering with to make a reputation for themselves and with the eSwap X Professional Controller for Xbox, they’re carrying on their mantra. And though this one actually feels advanced from the surface, getting palms on and having fun with what it is ready to present to your gaming periods is one thing of pleasure.
Construct. Program. Regulate. Rearrange. That’s how Thrustmaster promote the eSwap X Professional and we weren’t significantly positive we’d get on with that vary of movement; the sheer quantity of customisation it permits is past one thing that may often be of attraction. However despite the fact that we’ve not gone as deep with this one as is humanly attainable – the quantity of customisation obtainable is fairly excessive – as a regular Xbox controller it does the job nicely. The truth is, it does the job higher than many.
A beefy previous unit, the Thrustmaster eSwap X Professional controller feels fairly good in hand. It’s a bit larger than a traditional Xbox Wi-fi Controller, however is of a really good weight, coming in at some 319 grams. It does in fact include all the standard Xbox buttons and options you’d anticipate; a few thumbsticks, a really good D-Pad, face buttons, Menu, View and Share and the requisite triggers and bumpers. In the event you’re in any respect conversant in an Xbox controller, you’ll be proper at residence with the eSwap X.
However then Thrustmaster do extra, guaranteeing those that wish to customise issues can accomplish that. We’d go so far as to say that that is the best and most customisable controller we’ve ever been hands-on with – whether or not you’re bored of the standard set-up or want to modify up for private causes, Thrustmaster have you ever coated.
So what are you able to do with the eSwap X Professional? Nicely, a modular design is current right here and held in place through a collection of robust magnets are facet grips, the D-Pad itself and each thumbsticks. All of them slide into place, gripping with ease, detachable in a matter of seconds with zero instruments required. On a private stage we’re undecided why, however do you have to then want to change the D-Pad positioning for the left thumbstick for instance, making this Xbox controller extra in step with a PS5 controller, you are able to do so. Hell, you possibly can even transfer that D-Pad over to the opposite facet of the pad, changing the proper thumbstick do you have to so want. Once more, why? Nicely, we’re not right here to let you know the right way to play your video games, and neither does it appear are Thrustmaster.
Nevertheless you’ve issues set-up, it is a good controller to make use of. It’s extremely tactile each when it comes to how issues are in hand in addition to regarding the micro-switched buttonry, with just about every little thing feeling nice to the touch. Thumbsticks are extraordinarily clickable and while the face buttons don’t depress as a lot as we’re used to, not often will you ever miss a beat.
It’s an analogous story when it comes to the set off and bumpers too. The triggers don’t simply look nice with a metallic tackle issues – complementing the D-Pad and thumbstick surrounds – however they’ve a little bit of texturing to make sure that there may be little likelihood of you slipping off the vitals as the warmth rises. They’re additionally switched, so in order for you much less – or extra – journey, you possibly can get pleasure from it. The triggers are additionally swappable do you have to want much more personalisation with Thrustmaster coping with quite a few numerous colored accent packs. The bumpers are equally good, once more brilliantly clickable and permit you to situate your fingers in place, prepared to fireside. Simply bear in mind, these bumpers are fairly loud in use.
Constructed properly into the slice-of-pie formed apron of the Thrustmaster eSwap X Professional Controller is the standard smattering of Xbox function buttons. Menu and View are each nicely positioned, however it’s fairly unusual to see the Nexus button and that of Share switched up from the norm. That’s not a foul factor, however it does take a bit getting used to – we received’t disclose the quantity of occasions we’ve shared a screenshot once we’ve been scrabbling round for the Xbox dashboard. It’s what it’s although and the design of this space, with the Thrustmaster brand adorning it, has been put collectively nicely.
So what else do we have now? Nicely, very like just about each third occasion controller that involves the Xbox scene today, across the again sees 4 programmable buttons. Round in form, these actually aren’t as instantly hittable as one thing just like the paddles on the again of an Elite Sequence 2 controller, however they do the job nonetheless. We’ve discovered that our center fingers sit on the third and 4th buttons by default, transferring as much as the first and 2nd when the time requires it. It feels a bit unusual saying that, however on the finish of the day it’s not one thing that may ever be a difficulty.
Programming these buttons is a cinch. It really works together with two completely different controller profiles, each actioned through a collection of buttons on the entrance face of the controller. A easy press of one in every of these, adopted by the MAP button after which miserable the buttons you want to allocate takes a matter of seconds. It’s a very neat system that works close to flawlessly.
Alongside these profile and MAP buttons on the entrance are a 3.5mm audio jack port, a mic mute and quantity controls. We’ve lengthy been followers of on-controller audio controls, guaranteeing that you simply by no means must take away your palms from the controller as a way to kind issues out, and people in place on Thrustmaster’s eSwap X Professional controller are equally good.
And if you really want it, downloading the ThrustmapperX app from the Xbox Retailer offers the chance to carry much more adjustments.
As with something although, perfection isn’t fairly discovered with the Thrustmaster eSwap X Professional Controller. For a lot of, the truth that it is a wired controller will instantly put them off, even when the braided cable that runs between console and controller is an honest size at some 300cm in size. Extra nonetheless will level to the truth that Thrustmaster are utilising a Micro-USB port for that cable – truthfully, we’re within the 2020’s now and there needs to be no signal of Micro-USB being left wherever on this earth. Stick some USB-C in there please Thrustmaster.
Apart from that cable although, there’s not an excessive amount of to dislike about what Thrustmaster have put along with the eSwap X Professional Controller for Xbox. It is a nicely configured controller that comes with a number of customisable choices, guaranteeing that the person gamer could make it their very own. Many might by no means really feel the necessity to make use of all of its techniques and we’re personally on the facet of those that run this as default straight out of the field (though we might slap some color on it through an official package), however should you’re available in the market for a simple-to-use but complex-should-you-wish controller, it’s the Thrustmaster eSwap X Professional controller that needs to be in your palms.
Big thanks exit to Thrustmaster for offering us with their eSwap X Professional Controller for Xbox for assessment. You’ll be able to go to Thrustmaster direct should you want to choose a unit up for your self; anticipate to pay round $179. In the event you like what you discover, quite a few accent kits in numerous colors are additionally current. Inexperienced Camo or Orange Crystal, anybody?