Thrustmaster - eSwap X R Pro Controller Forza Horizon 5 Edition for Xbox One, Xbox X|S, Windows - White

My favorite game is Forza Horizon 5. This controller makes the game closer to realistic, and much more enjoyable. It was one of my best Christmas presents!

HOW IT FEELS TO USE: This controller just feels at home in my hands as it is incredibly comfortable, and everything is easy to reach. It is plug and play so I’m able to immediately jump into my game of choice. The modules pop out and back into place immediately without the need for tools which further elevates my game by giving me customizability whether that be with Racing Wheel Module for racing games or limiting the triggers range by toggling the switch on the back for FPS. But perhaps the most surprising aspect was the latency which feels just as responsive as my mouse and keyboard compared to the usual lag I feel with my Xbox or PlayStation controller. Likely due to the mechanical buttons that have shorter actuation and longer lifespan, which they report are 64% faster than standard membrane buttons. They feel better too. The back buttons are in just right spot (but only remappable when the d-pad is installed over the racing wheel), can be adjusted on the fly. Or even easier through the Thrustmaster software on Windows. The only issue I ran into is difficulty updating my controller with said software. The included braided micro-USB cable is plenty long to plug into a console from across the room or right next to your laptop/desktop PC. I do wish this was USB-C over Micro-USB as that port needs to be fully cemented in the history museum. With the removable cable it also makes it easy to travel with and comes with a little soft cloth carry bag. Perhaps, the best part of this controller is that if something were to go bad, instead of buying a new controller, you just swap the module. One of the first expenses I buy after getting a console is buying a Scuf controller because I gotta have those four back buttons as it elevates the gaming experience. But this controller blows my Scuf controllers away with the only downside being it isn’t wireless, and what I’ll be getting from here on out. In general, this feels to be the most responsive (lowest latency) controller that I’ve ever used. As it just seems fast. Which is what I like the most about it. It feels premium in the hand, is very comfortable, and has a ton of customizability which I like a lot. I think it is an easy recommendation. RACING WHEEL MODULE: This thing is incredible. I feel fully immersed and at times it feels like I’m driving an actual vehicle. Which sounds wild. But to put you in the action, I’m driving through the hills of San Andreas on GTA Online, I’m taking corners as fast as I can, my wheels are barely sticking as I can feel the car starting to slide out from under me, the wheel module is fully maxed giving a good amount of resistance like a real steering wheel would, and I find myself naturally letting off the gas to effectively take the turn. Or I’m weaving in and out of traffic finding myself having to be ultra precise or I’ll spin out. The same held true in games like Forza and other racing games where it just felt more immersive. I do find the large ridges to help provide grip and I never slipped. There is more resistance the further to the edges you get. My only complaint is the limited 95 degrees of rotation. As it feels too constricting. I would prefer to see a bit more such as 110 or 120. Did it improve my performance in my racing game? Yes, as with a normal joystick inevitably you will get extra movement with it going forward. With this limiting it to just the X axis it makes it more accurate. And despite my years of experience, I found after about 45 – 60 minutes I was performing just as well if not better in my games and definitely will be using it going forward. CUSTOMIZABILITY: The next main reason to consider this over the competition is the serious amount of customizability. It has three module placements that you can arrange anyway you want. The back triggers can be toggled to have more or less movement for FPS games. The sides can be swapped as they are magnetic. You have four buttons on the back, which can be remapped on the fly without the need of software. All the buttons on the controller are remappable in the Thrustmaster Software. On the bottom you have several buttons, going left to right, volume down, volume up, mute, 3.5 mm jack, profile 1, map, profile 2. BACK BUTTONS: Third main reason to consider is the back buttons. There are four of them that are easy to reach and feel good to press. With the Racing Wheel Module Installed they default to directional buttons. Otherwise, can be changed to whatever you want on the fly or through the Thrustmaster software. THUMB STICKS: They are longer than your average thumb stick, which may take some getting used to. As you have more movement, which makes them more accurate. They have good resistance. You can fully adjust stick drift in the Thrustmaster software. I can’t comment on how long they last though. But with them being modular you can buy a replacement for I think $19.99. TRIGGERS: Not the best. Trigger movement is smooth. But feel short, hard, and limited. Also, don’t feel like they move nearly as much as my PlayStation or Xbox controller, but those feel mushier. The rear triggers come stock at 10 – 90% movement so you’ll want to change this to 0 – 100% in the Thrustmaster software. The front bumpers feel great. BUTTONS: Feel very different than your usual membrane button. As they travel a lot less, deliver a more solid tactile bump, and audible click. They don’t feel amazing. But they do feel hyper responsive. And I’ll take that trade any day. SOFTWARE: Thustmaster Software is easy to navigate. My only issue is that when I first tried to update my controller it would get stuck and not actually do anything. I had to uninstall the drivers, unplug the controller, then open the software, plug in the controller, then update which made it work as intended. Otherwise it did just fine. COMFORT: When you grip this controller, it feels like your hands are going home. As the contours are in all the right places. It is quite large but find that to be a positive as my thumbs easily reach all the modules and my pointer and index finger easily hit and rest on the back buttons. The sides look to be rubber/grippy but that is just paint, it is smooth like the rest of the plastic. I much prefer it over Xbox or PlayStation controllers. BUILD QUALITY: It feels premium. I didn’t notice any creaking or issues. Paint quality is top notch. All buttons feel solid without wobble. While they might not feel ultra-premium (which I think is a preference thing) I like them a lot. Especially, the responsiveness of them.

I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Thrustmaster ESWAP XR Pro Controller Forza Edition, and as a casual racing game fan,who doesn't want to spend a ton of money on a full racing sim, I decided to try this controller out. This controller combines the precision and versatility of a steering wheel with the eSwap XR Pro module and I couldn't be more impressed. The standout feature of this controller is undoubtedly its modular capabilities. Swapping out attachments is a breeze to the point where when playing games like cyberpunk2077 I would swap out the direction pad to use the steering wheel when I had to drive anywhere in the game. Though this controller really shines in games like Forza bringing a whole new level of immersion to racing games. The wheel has a quality feel to it, and was shocked just how responsive feedback was compared to using a joystick. The back buttons on the controller I mapped to be my shifters ( in the thrustmaster computer App) are very satisfying to use. The eSwap XR Pro, the Forza Edition maintains the excellent build quality and ergonomic design. It's comfortable to hold, even during long gaming sessions, and the modular components are great especially with other controllers on the market having issues with Stick drift, so if over time your joystick starts to wear out, instead of having to buy a whole new controller you can just buy the modular joysticks at the fraction of the cost. The facebuttons have a nice click to them when pressing them along with the back buttons and the shoulder buttons. My only complaint about the controller design is that they went with a Micro-USB cord and not USB-C, which for any new product I expect the port to be USB-C, but that's just my personal opinion. The Thrustmapper App software allows for great customization of the controller's settings, and this holds true for the racing wheel module as well. You can adjust trigger sensitivity, dead zones, and button mapping to create a personalized layout. The precision of the module ensures that every turn, brake, and acceleration input is accurate and responsive, which is crucial in racing simulations. I did run into an issue with trying to update firmware for the controller in the app and it would never update and the app would just freeze and after 3 attempts it just would never update, that being said the controller did work fine and I didn't run into any issues or notice any kind of latency. The controller's compatibility with PC and Xbox, is a huge plus. It seamlessly integrates with my gaming setup, and the plug-and-play setup makes it hassle-free to switch between different platforms. Overall I think the Thrustmaster ESWAP XR Pro Controller Forza Edition with the Racing Wheel Module is a fantastic investment for anyone who loves gaming and racing games. It has the best of both worlds with the racing wheel module tailored for immersive racing experiences and when you want to play a FPS game just pop the wheel off for the Joystick and you're good to go. You can’t go wrong with this controller.

The eSwap XR Pro Controller Forza Horizon 5 Edition is the ultimate controller for fans of racing games on Xbox and PC. The ability of swapping the left thumbstick for a racing module is a game changer. My experience with racing games is that it can be challenging to drive perfectly with a thumbstick, and a full steering wheel setup takes up a lot of space in your living room. That’s where this controller is perfect. It’s very much like the controller you already have, except for the switchable modules. With the use of magnets, the T-MODS can be swapped in seconds, making this controller not only perfect for racing games, but also any other game. The racing wheel module feels a lot like a tiny steering wheel for your thumb, and it only took me a few turns to get used it. On a rare occasion, my muscle memory would cause a few strange turns, but after a race or two, I was so comfortable that I can’t imagine playing racing games without it. I tested the controller primarily on Forza Motorsport 7 on my Xbox Series X, as it’s the game that is the most challenging of recent Forza games (understeer galore), and this controller makes the experience so much more fun. The wheel is also beneficial for more arcadey racing games like the Forza Horizon series and The Crew series, although I find those to be far more manageable with a thumbstick. If you’re a fan of F1, but found the video games to be impossible to enjoy with a controller, look no further. This controller makes the micro adjustments at high speeds so much more accurate. That is the reason why the racing wheel module is beneficial; you can make micro-adjustments like a real steering wheel. It’s very hard to do that with a regular controller, causing a lot of weird unnatural movement. The wheel simply makes the car drive more like a real car. The modules can be placed pretty much however you want, including both a left thumbstick and wheel, if you want to just ditch the D-pad (which does require the included screwdriver). There are also four buttons on the back, that can be configured however you like, either via the Map button on the controller or the ThrustmapperX software, which I recommend. The ThrustmapperX software is available as an app on the Xbox and PC. It detects the controller automatically and allows you to adjust the back buttons, thumbstick sensitivity, dead zones, and trigger sensitivity. The triggers also have physical buttons for a reduced trigger length for FPS games. The controller works great on Call of Duty too. You can have two profiles, either for two different types of games or two people. You can also update the firmware with the app. The buttons are mechanical and feel very responsive. The positioning of the back buttons takes a little bit of getting used to, but they feel comfortable to push with my ring and little finger. You can plug your headphones directly into the controller and adjust volume and mute mic with the buttons right next to the plug. You can’t adjust the balance between chat and game like on the attachment for the Xbox One controllers. The Xbox related buttons at the top feel like they’re a little higher than normal, but they’re only used every once in a while so not a real issue. In general, the controller seems a touch bigger than a regular one. My last thought is that the controller needs to be plugged into the Xbox/PC with a cable. This seems to be the case with every third-party controller, but the only thing on my wishlist would be a wireless version of the eSwap XR Pro. I also want to point out that it uses a Micro USB cable, not USB-C. This might have to do with ensuring compatibility with Xbox One consoles, although I’m pretty confident the Xbox One supports USB-C. With all that being said, I had a really fun time playing various Forza games with this controller. Perhaps the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and it’s getting me really hyped for the new Forza Motorsport that’s coming out in a couple of weeks. Can’t wait to start my journey with this controller. If you’re a fan of playing racing games with a controller, this is the one for you!

I was skeptical of this controller at first since it was not a full size steering wheel. After a few days of use, I am greatly impressed. Pros: -Style -Wheel adds precision -Customizable -Comfort Cons: -No rubber grips/texture -Micro USB -Wired only Setup: I used my unit on both Xbox One Series X and PC but did most of my testing on PC since there is software to better customize the device. I was impressed by the packaging and that each stick is modular. The D-Pad requires a special tool to remove so do not lose this as you have to “hook” it out of the unit. Any module can be placed in any slot. The unit comes with a cloth bag and a braided Micro-USB cable. I installed the Thurstmaster software on my PC which allows you to customize the wheel sensitivity zones. Initially I found fine movements to be too small at about 33% and I found my sweet spot to be 40% before transitioning to medium or large movements. Hardware: The controller is well built with sturdy plastic. The sticks and buttons feel high quality. The triggers were a little shallow for my taste but they offer a switch to change them to buttons or variable triggers similar to the Xbox Pro controller. There are four rear buttons which are by default mapped to D-Pad controls which allows you to go through menus when using the wheel in place of the D-Pad. It is not the most intuitive interface but once you get used to it, it works well. The grip area is a different color then the rest of the controller but has a smooth texture, I would have preferred some sort of texture or rubber grips there. The sticks are in a position where the menu button on the left is somewhat hard to press without touching the thumb stick. I was a little annoyed that the controller uses Micro-USB but the braided cable feels very sturdy with its plug, just don’t lose it. Vibration is present on both sides of the controller but I did not sense any vibration on the variable triggers. Overall, the controller is well thought out for its modular nature but takes a few shortcuts. Gaming: I primarily spent my time with this controller on Forza Horizon 5 on both PC and Xbox. I replaced the D-Pad with the wheel unit but it can go in place of any stick. At first, I crashed all over the place as the wheel is not intuitive at all at that size and controlled by the thumb. After about 20 minutes I realized the wheel is more precise than when I drive with the thumb stick requiring less taps and giving the ability to keep straighter lines in turns. I was very impressed after a few hours at how much my accuracy increased. You have to give this controller a chance and training to use properly as well as customize in the software. Once adapted, this controller is a game changer for racing fans who might not have room for a full size steering wheel.