Not everyone remembers those unique controllers that never made it. As third-party peripheral manufacturers try to offer gamers something different like the DualSense and Joy-Cons, they often have to go in a different direction. GameSir’s Swift Drive (obviously a working product name) is certainly that. And if you remember 1998 for the PS1, there’s definitely some shared DNA.
It features a compact steering wheel at the center of an otherwise typical controller design. It also has force feedback, technology commonly found in (full-size!) steering wheel controllers. GameSir says it has a “high precision” Hall effect encoder built in for “ultra-precise” steering.
You’ll be able to adjust the steering range from 30 to 1080 degrees, but you’ll probably want to keep it higher – that’s the whole point of this controller. Gamester has added Hall-effect sensors to its more specialized joysticks and buttons, while each trigger has its own haptic motor to simulate wheel slip and braking. The multiple RGB lights on the top of the controller will also attempt to replicate your in-game RPM, which is a lovely touch.
On the show floor at CES, I drove a big rig across a demonstration area, which was lowered down wireframe ramps and curved surfaces. The force-feedback is powerful and it’s a surprisingly satisfying driving experience as I twist the steering wheel with both thumbs. The steering wheel can also be customized with different plates. It felt like a miniature steering-wheel controller and would lock up when I oversteered or stopped. You may be concerned about battery life, but the controller should last 20-30 hours on a single charge.
A GameSir spokesperson said the controller is expected to go on sale later this year, but pricing has not yet been confirmed.
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