For probably the most half we affiliate Thrustmaster with among the most advanced of third celebration gaming equipment. That’s a degree hammered residence when you think about that we’ve beforehand been arms on with their T248 Wheel for racing or the T.Flight Full Equipment X for after we resolve to take to the skies. Hell, you may return to 2017 and skim our ideas in regards to the Thrustmaster Y-360X 7.1 Powered Ghost Recon Wildlands Version Headset for Xbox if you wish to know the way difficult issues are – even that identify 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 definitely feels advanced from the surface, getting arms on and having fun with what it is ready to present to your gaming classes 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 will normally 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 an ordinary Xbox controller it does the job nicely. In truth, it does the job higher than many.
A beefy previous unit, the Thrustmaster eSwap X Professional controller feels fairly good in hand. It’s somewhat larger than a standard 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 count on; a few thumbsticks, a really good D-Pad, face buttons, Menu, View and Share and the requisite triggers and bumpers. Should 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, making certain those that need 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 lined.
So what are you able to do with the eSwap X Professional? Effectively, a modular design is current right here and held in place by way of a collection of robust magnets are aspect 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 degree we’re unsure why, however do you have to then want to swap the D-Pad positioning for the left thumbstick for instance, making this Xbox controller extra according to a PS5 controller, you are able to do so. Hell, you may even transfer that D-Pad over to the opposite aspect of the pad, changing the proper thumbstick do you have to so want. Once more, why? Effectively, we’re not right here to inform you easy methods to play your video games, and neither does it appear are Thrustmaster.
Nonetheless you’ve gotten issues set-up, it is a good controller to make use of. It’s extremely tactile each by way of how issues are in hand in addition to regarding the micro-switched buttonry, with just about the whole lot 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, hardly ever will you ever miss a beat.
It’s an identical story by way of 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’s 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 may get pleasure from it. The triggers are additionally swappable do you have to want much more personalisation with Thrustmaster coping with numerous numerous colored accent packs. The bumpers are equally good, once more brilliantly clickable and let you situate your fingers in place, prepared to fireside. Simply remember, 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 characteristic buttons. Menu and View are each nicely positioned, nevertheless it’s fairly unusual to see the Nexus button and that of Share switched up from the norm. That’s not a foul factor, nevertheless it does take somewhat getting used to – we received’t disclose the quantity of occasions we’ve shared a screenshot after 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? Effectively, very like just about each third celebration controller that involves the Xbox scene lately, across the again sees 4 programmable buttons. Round in form, these definitely 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 somewhat unusual saying that, however on the finish of the day it’s not one thing that will ever be a difficulty.
Programming these buttons is a cinch. It really works together with two completely different controller profiles, each actioned by way of a collection of buttons on the entrance face of the controller. A easy press of one among 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, making certain that you just by no means have to take away your arms 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 actually need it, downloading the ThrustmapperX app from the Xbox Retailer provides the chance to convey 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 a good size at some 300cm in size. Extra nonetheless will level to the truth that Thrustmaster are utilising a Micro-USB port for that cable – actually, we’re within the 2020’s now and there must be no signal of Micro-USB being left wherever on this earth. Stick some USB-C in there please Thrustmaster.
Other than 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 bunch of customisable choices, making certain that the person gamer could make it their very own. Many could by no means really feel the necessity to make use of all of its techniques and we’re personally on the aspect of those that run this as default straight out of the field (though we could slap some color on it by way of an official equipment), 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 must be in your arms.
Big thanks exit to Thrustmaster for offering us with their eSwap X Professional Controller for Xbox for overview. You possibly can go to Thrustmaster direct should you want to choose a unit up for your self; count on to pay round $179. Should you like what you discover, numerous accent kits in numerous colors are additionally current. Inexperienced Camo or Orange Crystal, anybody?
