[Review] Brook Wingman XE 2 Converter
One's choice, or lack thereof, of controller can have a major effect, good and bad, on enjoying games. Until recently, my enjoyment of the Nintendo Switch and subsequently, the Switch 2 has been mild, at best. This is mostly due to the controllers I was using: the first was the 8BitDo F30 Pro that I reviewed several years ago, which was 123.6mm x 53.3mm x 16mm (approximately 5” x 2.5” x 0.5”), followed by the original version of the 8BitDo Lite SE gamepad, which is Bluetooth and measures 120mm x 66mm x 26.35mm (approximately 4.7" x 2.6" x 1.04"). Both of these were entirely too small for me to like playing on, and they both developed problems over the years, ultimately making both of them unusable.
In between trading in my original Switch and purchasing my Switch 2, I bought the 2.4G wireless version of the Lite SE measuring 145mm x 78mm x 30mm (approximately 5.71" x 3.07" x 1.18"), which I’ve been using with reWASD and the RemotePlay PC app/Chiaki. As stated in my previous Wingman P5 review, reWASD is the input remapper that I use for all of my games. On top of all the features you’d expect from an input remapper, such as toggle and turbo, there are several features that make reWASD stand out, like allowing you to group up to 4 devices as 1; letting you set up unlimited layouts, and; reWASD can connect to other computers and consoles via Bluetooth.
As of version 6.5, reWASD supports ESP32 Bluetooth connections. The ESP32 is a low-cost and low-power micro-controller that has integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities. To connect to a Switch console, reWASD suggests using an ESP32 adapter since not all Bluetooth adapters can work correctly in this setup.
The keyword there is “suggests”. I’m using a TP-Link UB500 USB Bluetooth 5.4 adapter and I’ve had zero problems when connecting to other Brook controller converters like the aforementioned P5. Controller converters are USB adapters that make it so a controller from one system can work on another, e.g.: I can use the 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G, which is an Xbox controller, on my PS5.
I’ve had the original Wingman XE, which supports PS4 and PS3 for several years. After I upgraded from my PS4 to a PS5, I made the XE my dedicated PS3 converter. In conjunction with reWASD, this lets me play games I previously had no way of playing due to lack of accessibility, be it in-game options, or controllers. These games include: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Final Fantasy XIII, and Transformers: War for Cybertron. Brook has since released an updated version, aptly named the Wingman XE 2, which supports PS4, PS3, Switch, Switch 2, and PC, along with over 125 controllers. As with the Wingman XE and P5, the XE 2 supports wired and wireless connections!
The initial setup is pretty painless. You just need to make sure your system’s Pro Controller Wired Communication setting is turned to On, and plug in the XE 2. That’s it.
For wired controllers, all you have to do is plug in your controller to the converter and it should work. For wireless controllers, you have to put the converter into Pairing mode by holding either of the side buttons, which double as LEDs for 1 second, and put your controller into Pairing. From there, the converter and your controller will pair together. To make sure everything works, I like to press the correlated Home button on the controller.
Using a computer, you can adjust various settings such as remappings and turbo settings in the Brook Converter Center software but be aware, the changes are saved to the converter itself, meaning it will affect everything, Home screen as well as every game, whereas you can have multiple layouts and change them on the fly, using reWASD.
When I get a controller converter that supports wireless connections, the first thing I do is test if I can connect it and use it with reWASD. I’m happy to report that yes, reWASD can indeed connect directly to the Wingman XE 2 via Bluetooth! With the XE 2 and reWASD, I’m now able to not only play but also actually enjoy games that I was previously unable to, such as Monster Hunter Rise, Okami HD, Panzer Dragoon Remake, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The only thing that might make people, especially those on a fixed income, hesitate getting a Wingman XE 2 is the price. You can purchase it from multiple sellers, including Amazon, and of course, off the Brook Gaming official website. That said, depending on where you buy it from, the XE 2 will cost either $49.50 (the Brook Gaming official website) or $54.99 USD (Amazon). It’s less expensive than some controllers but it’s still a nice chunk of money. In my opinion however, the benefits – being able to play and enjoy games that I was previously unable to – more than justify the cost. Accessibility is the name of the game.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Accessibility Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Brook Gaming is a company that produces game controllers and adapters for various platforms, such as PS5, PS4, PS3, Xbox, Switch, and Retro. The Taiwanese gaming accessories brand has more than 20 years of experience in designing and manufacturing gaming hardware, with super converters for gaming consoles released in 2015, allowing your older gamepads, joysticks, and steering wheels to adapt seamlessly to new consoles. Brook Gaming sent me a Wingman XE 2 for review, and I would like to sincerely thank them for doing so!
