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.
