The new Xbox controller fixes one of the biggest annoyances of modern gaming

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Key things

  • Thrustmaster has announced a new HEART controller for Xbox and PC.
  • The gamepad uses Hall effect sensors that promise to be immune to analog stick drift, one of the biggest annoyances of modern gaming.
  • The Thrustmaster HEART is currently available for pre-order for $99.99.



Thrustmaster has announced the new HEART pro controller Xbox consoles and PC, which promises to eliminate drift completely. To do this, this Xbox-licensed gamepad uses Hall effect technology.

Simply put, a Hall sensor is a device that detects magnetic fields. This allows it to be used to create extremely long analog sticks, the central components of which are not in direct contact, which would contribute to their wear during use. Their shafts instead have small magnets attached to them that move when the stick itself does. Perpendicularly placed sensors of the Hall effect near the magnets then detect their positional changes and transfer them to the input of the controller without friction. Most modern solutions of this kind use two Hall effect sensors per rod, one for the X-axis and one for the Y-axis.


Thrustmaster Unveils HEART Controller with Hall Effect Analog Sticks

American gaming accessories manufacturer Thrustmaster has now decided to use this technology in the design of its newly revealed HEART controller. The gamepad features Hall effect sensors that promise to be completely immune to analog stick drift, maintaining maximum accuracy over time. The driver name stands for HallEffect AccuRate Technology, which Thrustmaster calls its own implementation of these sensors. The Thrustmaster HEART was available for pre-order in early October 2024 for $99.99 / €99.99 / £99.99. Pre-orders are currently available through Best Buy and the manufacturer's own online store.


The Xbox Premium Controller still doesn't have a firm release date. But since Thrustmaster has historically revealed new products months before their release, it's likely that the HEART will hit store shelves before the end of Q4 2024. The gamepad comes with a power cable and an official description manual, suggesting that it will be more a wired controller rather than a battery-powered wireless connection. There is also an LED strip on the left side, the colors of which can be customized by the user.

The Thrustmaster HEART is significantly lighter than the official Xbox controllers

HEART measures 160 x 45 x 110mm (6.3 x 1.8 x 4.3″) and weighs 214g. This makes it significantly lighter than the current generation Xbox Series X and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, which tip the scales at 287g and 345g, respectively, its overall shape and button configuration mostly mimic official Xbox gamepads, so owners of Microsoft controllers should get used to the HEART.


Given its $100 price tag, the HEART will seemingly be positioned as a compromise between entry-level and premium gamepads in the spirit of the Elite Series 2. But considering that not every high-end controller on the market currently uses Hall effect sensors, the promise of drift-free analog sticks could prove to be a pretty big selling point for Thrustmaster's upcoming product.

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