Thrustmaster HEART Controller Review | TheXboxHub

Past the Buzzwords: Thrustmaster’s HEART Controller for Xbox and PC

You possibly can’t ever say that Thrustmaster simply toe the road, delivering customary merchandise to the gaming market time and again. For in reality, they’ve fingers in lots of pies, hardly ever working generic merchandise, persistently pushing boundaries. 

With the likes of the T248 Wheel of their product lineup, in addition to the T.Flight Full Kit X and cracking eSwap XR Pro Controller Forza Horizon 5 Edition with its teeny tiny steering wheel entrance and centre, we’re continually amazed by what Thrustmaster supply. 

That’s the case too for the Thrustmaster HEART Controller. That is an Xbox and PC controller that, while coming to market at entry degree, is a cracking possibility for these eager about efficiency above anything. It has that HEART expertise entrance and centre, with the HallEffect AccuRate Know-how (H.E.A.R.T.) ripped straight from Thrustmaster’s flight sim presence, including it into a typical Xbox controller. 

You could not assume you want a controller that utilises magnetic sensors as a substitute of mechanical friction, and it’s possible you’ll by no means have frightened in regards to the precision and place of thumbsticks earlier than, however use this and also you’ll be delighted at the way it enhances any gaming session. 

Anybody who has learn our items earlier than will know that we care little for the most recent and best buzzwords. We have now to confess to loving 4K, however hardly ever can we scream about 30fps this or 60fps that, and Ray Tracing may properly be somebody final met in a pub. For that motive alone, we will’t get too enthused by Thrustmaster’s HEART claims with this new controller, however that’s to not say we don’t prefer it. We do. So much. 

Light-weight Design, Acquainted Options

Allow us to begin by specializing in how the HEART controller feels in hand, and the way it comes throughout aesthetically, as for some avid gamers, that can be as a lot, perhaps extra necessary than, how the flowery mechanics play out. And truthfully, grabbing the HEART controller out of the field might properly dim any enthusiasm. It appears effective, with a black and white halved controller break up just about down the center by a glowing LED strip, offering some character to an in any other case humble controller. 

Nevertheless it does really feel very plasticky in hand, extraordinarily light-weight and missing any actual heft. Some might come to it from an Xbox Elite or one of the many alternatives and be shocked by how gentle it feels, however that’s principally right down to this controller being wired, working a USB-C to USB-A cable. Don’t assume that Thrustmaster have chucked a brilliant prolonged cable in both – this one is just 2 metres in size, and that feels a tad stingy. If you happen to can solely recreation wirelessly, the HEART controller from Thrustmaster is probably not for you. 

These plastic vibes emit right down to the bumpers and triggers too, in addition to the d-pad, which, while all effective, fail to essentially ignite. There’s little by way of texturing or grip to any of these controller staples, though they’re properly contoured to make sure any lack of tactility is forgotten. Actually, the bumpers really feel nice to press, while the triggers ship the journey required of them. 

The HEART Controller’s Options and Performance

Alongside these are different common controller requirements. A few thumbsticks really feel nice in use (a little bit extra on these in a bit), while extremely responsive mechanical face buttons hardly want a success for registering, Thrustmaster hyping a 64% pace enhance over conventional buttons, with an activation distance of simply 0.3mm. If you happen to’re one who video games on the sting, requiring laser-focus and sharp buttons, these face buttons can be a godsend. 

You’ve then bought the Xbox Nexus button entrance and centre, flanked by the standard trifecta of Menu, View and Share. However then these themselves are accompanied by a few delicate little profile and mapping buttons. 

Across the again? That’s the place you’ll discover a few programmable M buttons, properly located to make sure that your center fingers relaxation on them while holding the controller. We are able to’t say we’re the most important followers of rear-mounted buttons, preferring to stay with what we’ve learnt from years of Xbox gaming, however these M buttons do really feel good, properly curved to make sure that they’re amongst a number of the higher again buttons we’ve ever used. It’s simple to set them up as you see match too, utilising a mixture of profile, mapping, and rear buttons, all confirmed by the controller’s LED strip. 

We guess we should always communicate extra about that LED bar too, principally as it’s a principal deal with how the Thrustmaster HEART controller appears. It’s fairly a pleasant little addition, and while removed from a vital, does break up the panda vibes that the in any other case black and white controller brings. Absolutely customisable, a easy hit of the profile button, accompanied by some D-Pad utilization (left and proper for color altering, up and down for depth) helps brighten up even essentially the most dour of gaming classes. 

We’re additionally appreciative of the on-controller mic button. Located on the entrance fringe of the HEART controller, proper subsequent to the three.5mm audio port, it’s right here the place you may simply mute/unmute the mic, or fiddle with headset volumes, celebration and recreation chat.

HallEffect AccuRate Know-how: The HEART of the Controller

And although we thought it is probably not of actual curiosity to us, there’s no debating that the HEART providing discovered on this controller is excellent. HallEffect might not imply a lot to you, even much less so if you chuck within the AccuRate Know-how, and we’re struggling to see it as something however a brand new Thrustmaster buzzword, however in actuality, the mini-sticks included on this controller are flipping nice. They really feel sensible to the contact, barely concave on high to make sure no thumb slippage, with the precision and motion they permit equally off the chart.

Thrustmaster are promoting this tech on delivering peak precision and infinite beats, with unrivalled precision over time, all made doable by magnetic sensors that measure the stick actions. it ought to (will) imply no drift, unable to wear down over time, all working inside 0.01 diploma of precision. We might personally be far-off from the pro-levels that some avid gamers attempt to attain, however are fairly certain that with the HEART controller in hand, a rise in gaming high quality is close to assured. 

eSwap Compatibility and the THRUSTMAPPERX App

Even higher is that when you’ve got a Thrustmaster eSwap controller at hand, then you will get entry to the HEART expertise and mini-sticks with a brand new module. It does just about as you’ll anticipate, injecting the tech discovered on this controller into that of the intelligent eSwap gear. Maybe it will be higher for Thrustmaster to supply the Corridor Stick Module in a double pack, as little doubt anybody seeking to insert this into their present eSwap controller would look to interchange each sticks, however just one mini-stick is available in every field. £24.99 appears like a giant outdated worth for only one piece of package. 

In fact, very like any and each controller that lands on Xbox from a 3rd celebration, there’s an Xbox App to accompany issues. If you have to dive deeper into what the HEART controller presents, then hearth up the free THRUSTMAPPERX App and the world may very properly be your oyster. 

A Wired Winner with HEART

In abstract, if you happen to can deal with the – fairly brief – wired nature of Thrustmaster’s HEART Controller for Xbox and PC, and wish some HallEffect love, then we’re unsure why you shouldn’t get entangled. We love the face buttons, we love the mini-sticks and we very a lot admire how good this controller appears in hand. Sure, it feels a little bit plasticky initially, however that’s simple to beat after just some days’ use. 

This HEART is correctly beating!

Big thanks exit to Thrustmaster for offering us with their HEART Controller for Xbox and PC for evaluation. Hit them up direct if you happen to want to seize one for your self. It’ll price you round £89.99.

If you happen to simply want the eSwap SH5 Hall Stick Module in your eSwap controller, then that may set you again £24.99 for one mini-stick module.