Review: Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 H.E. Controller

Thrustmaster has been building a reliable fleet of high-end joypads for years now, largely through its range of ESWAP controllers featuring modular components and re-mappable inputs. It's also put out one of the better stick-drift eliminating Hall effect grips for PC and Xbox players in recent memory with 2024's H.E.A.R.T. controller. So what happens when they get thrown into a blender?

Out pours the ESWAP X2 H.E., combining all the customization of the ESWAP range but finally delivering the pro-tier precision of Hall effect. It outperforms both its parents—but has also inherited some of the family's worst traits.

Leveling Up

When I reviewed the H.E.A.R.T. Controller, I termed it "an entry-level pro controller". By extension, the ESWAP X2 H.E. is what you might graduate to. Compared to that predecessor, it feels like a massive upgrade—from the overall build quality to the almost daunting versatility of its swappable components, everything about it feels like it's giving you more.

However, for those coming from previous generation ESWAP pads, it's unlikely to seem quite so revolutionary—in fact, it's essentially the same, bar the addition of Hall effect tech.

Out of the box, the X2 H.E. looks suitably impressive, a monolith of black broken up only by the copper tones of the D-pad and triggers, subtly matched by the lettering on the face buttons and dragon "2" of the logo. The LED color bar of the H.E.A.R.T. is gone, making this look and feel far more mature, although the mix of matte black for fixed features and glossy removable modules does make for a degree of visual inconsistency.

In the hand, it's definitely better suited to those with larger grips, thanks to a chunky overall size of 160 x 120 x 60 mm and the unusual height of the default thumbstick modules. These sit about 12 mm from their base, compared to the approximately 8 mm of a standard Xbox controller, and you can immediately feel the difference.

Only the D-Pad with its horrible "blobby" shape lets the X2 H.E. design down.

Photograph: Matt Kamen

It's also hefty, weighing in at 324 g, just over 50 percent heavier than the H.E.A.R.T.'s 214 g, and even outweighing the 294 g of a regular wireless Xbox Series pad with 2xAAs inserted.

All inputs are well placed, though, including the four customizable rear buttons that sit comfortably under your middle finger when playing. The Xbox function buttons—View, Menu, and Share—are nice and prominent, too, unlike the miniscule ones on the H.E.A.R.T.

Module Mixology

If you don't like any of that though, chances are you can change it. The X2 H.E.'s secret weapon is its modularity, with the entire front left-hand side and the right-hand side thumbstick able to be removed, rearranged, or replaced entirely. These component blocks are securely held in place magnetically and can be hot-swapped mid-use.

For instance, if you prefer a PlayStation-style symmetrical arrangement for your thumbsticks to the traditionally offset Xbox approach, simply swap the D-Pad and the left thumbstick units around. The D-Pad block can be a little tricky to extract by hand—the pad also comes with a screwdriver tool to lift it out like a manhole cover—but it's still a quick enough switch. Then bam, game on.

Think bigger, though. The modular approach means you can go far beyond layout tweaks, with additional components that allow you to completely retool the controller. If you want Hall effect sticks with the shorter throw of Xbox standard controllers, have at it. Fancy turning your pad into a mini steering wheel for racing games? Vroom vroom! Want to dominate on the fighting game scene with a classic six-button layout? Ditch that right-hand thumbstick and get those precious extra two face buttons in its place. Want that LED glow back? Well, if you must (but you'll lose Hall effect on those). The flexibility here to reinvent the controller as you like it is nothing short of fantastic.

The caveat is, of course, that all of these modules are sold separately. Given the X2 H.E. already retails at a not-inconsiderable $180 at time of writing, tailoring the pad to exactly how you want it could end up being extremely pricey. If you want two of those Xbox Hall effect sticks at $30 each, you're up to $240, which has to be acknowledged as a staggering amount to spend on a controller.

The hardest pill to swallow is that, despite its high cost, it doesn't even come with a case to safely house your pricey pad, only a small drawstring cloth bag that just about holds the X2 H.E. It'll prevent minor scuffs, but offers no real protection. Of course, you can buy an official hard case for another $30, but given the likes of Sony's DualSense Edge controller packs in a hard case for a price comparable to the base X2 H.E., it's hard not to feel Thrustmaster has cheaped out here.

There are a few physical tweaks you can make without spending a penny more though. The controller comes with a pair of alternate thumbstick caps, offering a rounded dome closer in style to early PlayStation controllers, rather than the indented tops of the default sticks. These can be screwed on or off the existing thumbstick modules, but note there's an extremely tiny rubber washer that sits inside the stick shaft, which is incredibly easy to miss or, worse, lose if it pops off while you're swapping them over.

Powered Up Performance

In use, the X2 H.E. delights, though. Despite the modular design, it feels like a sturdy, reliable whole in any configuration. While Thrustmaster is still trying to make "fetch" happen with that forced H.E.A.R.T. acronym—Hall Effect Accu-Rate Technology—the tech results in phenomenally precise movement and aiming in games.

Meanwhile, the mechanical ABXY and LB/RB shoulder buttons have a far shorter travel distance than those on membrane-based pads, for a satisfyingly snappy, responsive feel. The performance of the shoulder triggers can also be tweaked with lock switches, on the rear, that limit their physical pull distance.

Like its predecessors, all of its inputs can be remapped using the ThrustmapperX software tool, available for PC download or as an Xbox console app. Having those four rear buttons makes the X2 H.E. even more versatile on this front than the H.E.A.R.T. controller, which only has two rear paddles. The same software once again allows you to tweak the dead zones of the thumbsticks, the activation range for the triggers, and the intensity of haptic feedback across multiple zones on the pad.

Up to two personalized profiles can be saved to the pad, but can now be switched between with dedicated profile buttons on the underside of the pad, rather than having to memorize input combos as on the H.E.A.R.T., which is a welcome improvement. So, too, are onboard audio controls, with dedicated volume buttons next to the 3.5 mm port for headsets.

I've mainly been putting the X2 H.E. through its paces on RPG The Outer Worlds 2 (admittedly not the fastest paced game, but one that can have plenty of first-person shooting action), racer Forza Horizon 5, and action epic Ninja Gaiden 4. I've also thrown in a few sessions of Marvel Rivals. Hall effect remains a huge help on Forza for precision steering, but it’s on those last two where I really felt the performance improvement. Ninja Gaiden 4 demands lightning-fast reaction speed and complex combos, all of which felt more achievable, and although I didn't spend as much time in Rivals, I seemed to suck a bit less with this than I usually do when playing multiplayer shooters.

New Pad, Same Problems

Unfortunately, for all that the X2 H.E. gets right, it's still plagued with several of the problems of its precursors. Chiefly, it remains a corded-only controller, connecting to console or PC with the included USB-C to USB-A cable. Thrustmaster argues the cord approach helps reduce latency for professional players, but it still feels restrictive. There's at least a longer leash now: 2.5 meters versus the 2 of the H.E.A.R.T.

The cord is a trade-off, though, as adding a battery into the X2 H.E. would add to the already significant heft of it. A rechargeable cell with an even half-decent use time would likely put this close to the weight of some gaming handhelds. It's not necessarily uncomfortable, but after a few hours' play, you'll know it.

Beware: yes, the controller comes with alternate thumbstick caps, but there's a tiny rubber washer that sits inside the stick shaft, which is incredibly easy to miss or, worse, lose.

Photograph: Matt Kamen

What is uncomfortable, sadly, is the D-Pad, which retains the horrible "blobby" shape that seems to blight most of Thrustmaster's controllers. Functionally, it can't be faulted, with the same high performance as every other component, but it feels horrible under the thumb, with no clear distinction for any of its cardinal directions. If anything, the keyhole in its center (which allows the screwdriver tool to easily pull the module out) makes this D-Pad feel worse than the H.E.A.R.T.'s one. If Thrustmaster can square that circle for its next generation—performance, weight, a good D-Pad, and cutting the cord—it could have the perfect controller on its hands (and in yours).

D-Pad aside, this is already going to be a step up for many hardcore players—although anyone coming from previous modular ESWAP pads may find their money is better spent on picking up a pair of Hall effect modules than a whole new controller.

For players looking to upgrade, though, the X2 H.E. is an excellent option, a truly pro-tier controller that can be finessed to do just about anything you might want. It delivers phenomenal precision and performance, but while it can up your game, the steep cost of pad and parts means it just might bust your wallet in the process.