While some manufacturers throw out older designs and emblazon their logo across a swathe of all-new devices and designs, iteration has become more powerful than revolution. You can look to products like the iPhone or Google’s Pixel line for design language and ideas that have shifted and developed, rather than being wholly replaced. That’s Thrustmaster’s approach with their eSwap range of controllers. These wired, modular PC and Xbox-centric controllers got so much right the first time around, that they’re fully committed to incremental improvements. That’s certainly the case with the eSwap X2 H.E. , a new, hall-effect-equipped version that retains all of the eSwap’s previous strengths while upgrading the sticks. It once again places the eSwap at the top of our favourite wired controllers.
The eSwap X2 H.E. is a thoroughbred pro controller. The wired USB connection ensures the lowest latency, while there are four additional ‘pro’ inputs on the back that you can customise as you see fit. It’s the Hall Effect sticks though that are the headline feature, boasting much improved longevity and accuracy over the previous potentiometer sticks.
Calling the Eswap X2 H.E.’s build quality ‘bombproof’ is something of assurance of how well-built it is, short of actually attaching it to some sort of explosive. This is the third iteration of the eSwap that we’ve covered, and each of them continues to serve faithfully, no matter how many hours of Overwatch 2 we put into them.
The eSwap X2 H.E. is crafted from sturdy black plastic, weighing in at a hand-friendly 300g. Thanks to the lack of an internal battery, it easily undercuts devices like Microsoft’s Elite Pro 2 at 345g, while still maintaining enough heft and firmness to feel like a premium device.
There’s no textured plastics to help with grip, but two rubberised pads down either of the controller’s arms provide some extra purchase. The key to how the eSwap X2 H.E. feels is the swappable modules, which let you switch from asymmetrical to symmetrical stick layouts, buy additional modules to turn it into a competent fight pad, or even a diminutive steering wheel.
Each module is held in by strong magnets, but they’re easy enough to pull out whenever you need to do it. In fact, it’s pretty moreish to do so, and I find myself treating the eSwap range like some kind of fidget toy, removing and moving the modules while waiting for things to download or update. This is the third iteration I’ve reviewed, and no matter how many times you mess with them, they just keep on going. They are incredibly well built, and the eSwap X2 H.E. continues that.
The Hall Effect stick units are the key point of improvement here, and they feel very good indeed. I prefer the feel of Thrustmaster’s Hall Effect sticks over the previous Potentiometer versions, and they give a perfect response via HardwareTester.com. The longevity for Hall Effect sticks is far higher, and they shouldn’t ever develop the dreaded stick drift. The industry is beginning to view TMR sticks as the next iterative step for gaming controllers, but Hall Effect’s reliability and tried and tested tech will make the eSwap 2 H.E. a long-term gaming companion.
It’s a shame not to also find Hall Effect analogue triggers round the back, with the added reliability and precision that would have brought, but there are two ways you can tailor them to your playstyle. Firstly, there’s physical lockouts that reduce the trigger travel, making them fast and easy to activate. While playing another heap of Overwatch 2 this is tech that now feels essential, and I really don’t enjoy using controllers that don’t have this feature.
The other key to customising the trigger response lies in the ThrustmasterX software. Available for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, you can dig into all aspects of your controller setup, including the trigger activation point, as well as the Hall Effect sticks’ deadzone and sensitivity and your button mapping.
The four ‘pro’ inputs are obviously amongst the buttons you can customise, and the eSwap’s inputs definitely set it apart from the competition. There are four circular buttons, incrementally raised to sit beneath your fingers. The buttons are definitely smaller than most of the other rear pro inputs out there, but, for me, they sit really well beneath my middle and ring fingers. I could easily activate them precisely when they were needed, and I think they helped give me a much-needed edge in Overwatch 2. To be fair, I need all the help I can get.
The main face buttons are also here to make you as fast as possible. The four face buttons and the D-pad are all mechanical, giving an excellent click every time you press them, and reducing your response time further than ever before. That’s the resounding feel of the eSwap X2 H.E.. It feels lightning fast, rock-solid and reliable. It’s not flashy: there’s no RGB, no OLED screens, and it doesn’t even have a wireless option. It’s just an excellent, well-made controller.
Therein lies its strength, but you do have to wonder if we couldn’t have expected more from this version. Wireless and Bluetooth connection options would definitely make sense at this point, as would an enhanced package with case, different D-pad tops and perhaps other modules included. It feels like Thrustmaster are in a holding pattern with this release, rather than keeping pace with the competition.
At £139.99, the eSwap X2 H.E. is certainly a premium wired option. There’s a couple of competitors in the modular space though, with the first being Turtle Beach’s Stealth Pivot at £119.99, which has rotatable sections that perform a similar function to the eSwap’s units. However, the sticks are much shorter, and the body of the controller just isn’t as comfortable as the eSwap. That said, it gains both wireless and Bluetooth functionality.
Meanwhile, there’s also the Victrix Pro BFG, which is a good deal more expensive at £179.99, but you also get the six-button fightpad module included in the box, as well as both wireless and wired connections. Swapping your units around is a little more complicated, needing the included square screwdriver to remove them, but it’s a much more generous package overall.
If you’ve got any of the previous versions of the eSwap controller, though, you can simply buy the new eSwap Hall Effect modules for a very reasonable £24.99, with two different heights available to tailor your setup even further. This has to be one of the most consumer-friendly approaches in the peripheral market, and one which puts Thrustmaster at a clear advantage. More of this sort of thing, please.
