Thrustmaster eSwap Pro Controller Review

For many games, millions of them actually, the stock controller that comes with their computer is more than enough. They're often built to last a few years, don't cost too much money to replace, and you know that pretty much everyone else is using the same. Of course, that's not for everyone, and if you want a better experience or even a technical advantage over your fellow gamers, then you'll need to invest in a new controller. There are a few options out there, from brands like Scuf, Razer, Logitech and more. Now Thrustmaster is entering the battle with their new eSwap Pro controller, and it may be one of the most custom and modular controllers in years. Thrustmaster eSwap Pro Controller The controller is based around a hot-swappable modular design, much like the MadCatz Xbox 360 MLG Pro Controller, which I reviewed about 10 years ago, albeit we haven't really seen anything similar since. You can pull out the analogue sticks, drop in new ones, move their position on the controller and... well... let's just say you can do a hell of a lot more than that. Think of this as the controller equivalent of a flagship mechanical keyboard, and expect to pay a similar price too, with the base pack costing around £150 and then extras can add up fast. However, that's still around the same price as other custom controllers, which don't promise anywhere near as many features. Features Fully modular professional gamepadNew next-generation (NXG) mini-sticks: a longer lifespan, and greater precisionPhysical locking for triggers; direct remapping of rear buttonsT-MOD technology and Hot Swap feature lets you swap a module with any other — at any point in a gameExtremely high-precision modules and action buttons, with minimal response timesUnlimited ecosystem of modules (sold separately) for maximum versatility and constantly-improving gaming comfortFree software for Xbox and PC (Windows 10) gamers: adjust all of the gamepad’s important settings (gaming presets, remapping, sensitivity, vibrations, etc.) What Thrustmaster Had to Say "Thrustmaster is thrilled to offer a brand-new piece of gaming gear for PS4 and PC: its first professional controller, designed for gamers looking to take their gaming to the next level, reach new heights of performance and achieve the best possible rankings. Featuring exclusive T-MOD technology, the eSwap Pro Controller has been developed to adapt to all gaming styles thanks to its completely modular ergonomics, industrial-grade components, dedicated configuration software for the controller, and an ecosystem of additional modules allowing for unlimited upgrading possibilities (sold separately). This product is an officially-licensed PlayStation 4 device, and is also compatible with PCs running Windows 10 (PC compatibility not tested or approved by Sony Interactive Entertainment). #NoBoostingRequired" Product Trailer Packaging & Accessories The box is really nicely designed, it's not overly large, but the box does feel durable and well-made. There's a large clear image of the controller, plus it demonstrates some of the hot swap features too. As you can see, I also have a set of eSwap LED Blue Crystal Pack add-ons, neat! Around the back of the box, you get a good diagram of all the major features; handy if you're looking at this in a retail store. These are NOT included, but do demonstrate what's possible with their range of optional extras, such as the eSwap pack I have with this sample. The box opens out, where you'll find the controller snugly mounted in a protective mould, and there's a hard foam padding protecting both of the analogue sticks too. In the box, you'll find the controller, a long USB cable, a small adjustment tool, and a protective storage bag. A Closer Look At first glance, it's pretty much what you would expect a PlayStation 4 controller to look like. Of course, it does look different from an official Sony one, but anyone would tell you what it was easily enough. I do like the design too, with the big rubber grips on the side, and a nice matte finish on the rest. It looks less like it's trying to be a swanky premium controller and more like it's built to survive hours of abusive use... which is likely what it'll get. The rubber grips are really nice, they are lightly textured and made from a hard wearing rubber. Furthermore, they're magnetically attached, so can be swapped out for a more custom look or simply replaced if damaged. A simple bit of branding down the left side. This is a cool feature, as you get two extra buttons here, a microphone mute and profile button. The controller is fully programmable, and you can hot-swap the profiles you've created. With so many custom features on this controller, that profile button may be one of the most important on the controller. Moving around the back ,we have a nice two-tone set of rear triggers. The L1 and R1 buttons are huge, with a double wide design. They're also Z-shaped too, giving you something to really hook your fingers around. There's a standard micro-USB port in there, which will work with any standard cable. However, the included cable comes with a big wedge shape that fits in that huge recess, ensuring it locks in nice and tight. Frip the controller over and you'll find four programmable mechanical buttons. By default, they're the four face buttons, but you can fully program this controller and change all that to suit your needs. As you can see, you get two analogue stick, and a D-PAD, however, this is the eSwap controller, so it's got a lot more going on! There's a special key hole in the D-PAD allowing you to insert the included tool. However, all three modules are mounted using magnetic mounts, you can just pull on the sticks to take them out. We'll do that in a moment! Performance There are four face buttons, as you would expect. However, they have mechanical micro switches giving them a light click. Seriously, why isn't this the default? These switches are amazing! They're not even noisy, it's more like a light mouse click, but the impact it has is pretty drastic. Tired of the stick you're using or simply need to move it? No problem, pull that sucker outta there! That's it, just lift it right out. It uses a pin system so it is fully hot swappable, and a strong magnet will snap it back into place when dropped into the controller. Of course, the sticks and the D-PAD all use the exact same mount, so you can simply remove and then move them around too. You can pull the D-PAD out with your fingers, but it's a bit tricky. Fortunately, the mini tool they included does the job in a second. Stripped out and ready to customise! Wait, you can do WHAT with it? I know it looks stupid, but this really does work. Pretty crazy! The side grips are magnetic too, so give them a firm pull and they'll pop off. They're pretty robust too, so I can't see them wearing out any time soon, but you can also customise them. Let's hook up the cable and... no wait, WAIT! Let's play with this lot first. In the box, you'll find new drop in modules for the analogue sticks and the D-PAD. There are new side grips, new triggers, and a set of dome heads. It's all magnetic too, so just pull out the old, drop in the new, and you're good to go. The trigger covers are fitted with a small screw on the bottom, but as you can see above, the multi-tool is included and will get the job done. Doesn't it look fantastic! Other colours and themes are available, so I'm sure you'll find something you like. Hook up the USB and the LED kit comes to life. It's nice to see something that's a fixed colour too. Everything is RGB these days, but somehow this just feels right. Of course, PlayStation and blue always go together well anyway. This controller is aesthetically pleasing, but more importantly, it's built to compete. Being able to change the stick layout is great, as you can have a more Xbox style configuration to suit your play style. It's a shame that the face buttons aren't on a similar module though, as moving them to make a lefty controller would have been fun. However, they are by far the nicest buttons I've used on a controller, and they're exceptionally responsive with a good tactile feedback; perfect for fighting games! The D-Pad has a similar clicky feet to it, albeit it's still got a nice flowing rocking motion to it, rather than just being a four way switch. Again, it just feels better and more responsive than a stock one. It should be said, the LED kit and the one that came pre-installed in the controller all feel the same, it's purely an aesthetics thing. As for the sticks, they're completely custom, and I can certainly feel the difference. The sticks are really smooth and feel a lot more linear than Sony's effort. There's certainly no issue with drift here! Plus, they're utterly customizable via the software. Software You have to keep the stock modules in when you download the software. There's a firmware update required for the LED kit to work, so let that install first, then swap over the hardware. It's a really simple software suite, with everything clearly laid out. Simply click which button you want, set it to an action and save. Want to swap triangle and R1 around? No problem. You can also set any button press from the control to the four additional button on the rear of the controller. The sticks feel great right out of the box. However, you can fully adjust their range, inner and outer dead zones, as well as their tracking speed at each interval. This is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond what I need to customise, but I can certainly appreciate the option to do so. You can do the same for the analogue triggers too. Fancy a light press to trigger a full press, or even the other way around? No problem. You can even adjust the maximum vibration from both the large and small motors. This I actually like, as many eSports players simply remove the rumble packs, this gives you the option to turn them off and on at will. The controller can store two profiles and you can hot swap them on the fly just like everything else. Overall, you're hardly short on options here! How Much Does it Cost? The stock controller is priced at around £149.99, which is pretty great given the level of features and flexibility it offers. It's about the same price as a basic SCUF controller, Astro C40, Nacon and a bunch of other options. Shop around though, as I've seen the eSwap listed for as low as £125 at some smaller retailers. The LED Add-On Pack was another £49.99 and worth every penny in my opinion. It looks fantastic, but also offered the option to change the sticks to dome heads too. There are quite a few options out there though. The one I really want to try is the Fighting Pack, which changes the right stick to two buttons, giving you six face buttons... AWESOME! Furthermore, you can buy single parts. A new D-Pad module is just £1799. A new classic mini-stick is only £13.99, and the NXG mini-sticks are only £18.99. That's cheaper than binning the whole controller each year because the sticks are clapped out. Full prices add-ons can be ordered directly at PC Gamepads | Thrustmaster Shop. A similar model is available for the Xbox/PC here. Overview This controller is clearly more than a lot of gamers need, but that doesn't make it any less awesome to wield. I'm quite happy with a stock Xbox controller myself. However, even I have to admit that I have to buy a new one every single year when a stick inevitably wears out or something similar. While the eSwap is more expensive, at least I can just drop in a new stick if one fails and it'll cost me less than £20 to do so. In all seriousness, I would buy this controller, and just stock up on spare parts with my first order. Sure, it'll rack up the bill now, but it'll give me peace of mind for years to come. I can't imagine buying this and not getting that fighting game add-on either, it's just too cool looking to have six buttons like that. Plus, I play a lot of arcade games at home, so we're pretty used to the six button layout here. The build quality on this thing is impressive. It feels robust and durable without being overly heavy. Given the level of hardware that goes into those hot-swap mounts and the internal electronics to make them work, I'm actually amazed this controller does cost a lot more than this. It offers up all the features of a Scuf controller, but with Scuf, you don't really change the hardware once it's been built. Giving the D-pad and buttons a mechanical switch configuration is what really nails this controller though. It's a lot more tactile and responsive and simply more enjoyable to use. I may have used this to play more Elder Scrolls Online this last week than I have Street Fighter V or Battlefield, but it was still a lot of fun to use in any game I chose. Should I Buy One While it is a big investment, it's worth every penny. While there are a bunch of other controllers that do a lot of similar things, there's nothing out there quite as unique, versatile and modular as the eSwap. It's the swiss army knife of gaming controllers!