Some of you may remember Xbox's very own Forza Horizon 5 controller - a super colourful pad that arrived around the launch of the game back in 2021. Well, third-party accessory maker Thrustmaster has now produced its own FH5 Xbox controller, and it has a very unique feature.
Thrustmaster's effort may not be as bright and brash as the Microsoft pad, but the company has integrated a 'racing wheel module' into the package, which can be swapped out for either the analog stick or the d-pad. It sounds as if this module is supposed to get closer to the feel of a racing wheel than a typical stick - here's how the team describes the feature:
"With the [racing wheel] module’s re-centering system and 95° rotation angle, you’ll experience a whole new level of immersion — with incredible control of your turns and drifting."
The description is a bit vague admittedly, but it does look cool at least, with the Forza Motorsport logo splashed front and centre on the racing wheel module. We're intrigued to see how this thing performs in the hands of racing fans, and whether they think it gets anywhere near a wheel setup.
Truth be told, it'll have to do more than look cool. Thrustmaster is asking for an eyewatering $200 for their Forza Horizon 5 controller, but if it can get a bit closer to the experience of a racing wheel, it may well be worth that cost! It's a variant of the company's existing "ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER", and here's a bit more about it:
"Experience incredibly immersive racing with the gamepad, thanks to the brand-new RACING WHEEL MODULE. Master your trajectories and drifts, and stay in control on any type of terrain with the module’s 95° rotation angle and non-slip surface."
"Hot-Swap technology lets you swap modules at any time, to adapt the gamepad to your gameplay — and not the other way around. ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER FORZA HORIZON 5 EDITION includes RACING WHEEL MODULE, two mini-sticks and a D-pad. Swap modules in a snap, for the setup that suits you best at any given time!"
"Combining enhanced precision with an extended lifespan of 2 million activations, the next-generation S5 NXG mini-sticks and RACING WHEEL MODULE represent an excellent balance between driving precision, control of your trajectories and overall immersion."
"You’ll love the super-responsive clicks provided by the mechanical buttons, which are 64% faster than standard membrane-based buttons (tested under laboratory conditions). Say goodbye to lagging response times in games: with an activation distance reduced to 0.01 inches / 0.3 mm, you’ll be able to respond quickly and take control in your races!"
"Adjust the sensitivity and other settings of the mini-sticks, RACING WHEEL MODULE and the triggers with the ThrustmapperX software. When RACING WHEEL MODULE is inserted, the D-pad inputs are automatically assigned to the rear buttons (1, 2, 3, 4). ThrustmapperX is available for Windows, and accessible directly via the Xbox menu!"