The landscape of simulation games has had a nice injection of lifeblood over the past few months. The credit goes above all to the guys from Asobo Studios who, in collaboration with Microsoft, gave birth to Microsoft Flight Simulator, sanctioning the return to the market of the King of flight simulators. The wait has been quite long for fans of the genre and of the fanchise, but to date all the patience brought over the years has paid off in a big way, with a game that not only lives up to its predecessors but which, potentially, will be able to set new standards for the whole genre, and it has already done so in its first months of life.
Currently, Microsoft Flight Simulator is only available in the PC version, but we know that the development team is willing to release their title also on the consoles of the Xbox family. If there's a huge pro that PC gamers have, to date, it's being able to enjoy this fantastic experience even with all the flight peripherals (find the guide to the best controllers for MFS at this address) suitable for this kind of simulations. For this reason, today, we are here to offer you our guide on the best peripherals suitable for enjoying 100% of the simulation experience offered by Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The best peripherals for Microsoft Flight Simulator< /h2> Thrustmaster Warthog, best ever Speedlink Phantom, budget alternative Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition, left-handed alternative Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition, real inspiration Thrustmaster T-16000M, best for Xbox Logitech G Saitek Pro, the Logitech proposal
ThrustMaster 2960738 HOTAS Warthog Flight Stick, the best ever
They start right away, therefore, with a perfect peripheral for gamers who want to get the most out of these gaming experiences. If quality is the only thing that matters to you, then ThrustMaster 2960738 HOTAS Warthog Flight Stick is almost an obligatory choice to fly better on Microsoft Flight Simulator. This control system is able to give truly optimal feedback during your flight phases within the Asobo Studio title. Thanks to a general compactness and millimeter precision, the joystick and handle offer excellent resistance and are able to be perceived every slightest movement of air during your flights. Furthermore, both peripherals can be used both as a pair and separately, giving the player the possibility of being able to further customize his experience with this type of hardware.
The HOTAS Warthog joystick has a total of 55 buttons fully programmable and 2 four-way hat switches, each with built-in push button; you will therefore have the maximum possibility of customization, while on the other hand you will be able to enjoy extreme realism: to press the buttons and triggers you will have to exert the same force as that required for a modern airplane, so you will feel like you are flying for real. Finally, you will also have a control panel with 5 programmable LEDs, useful for when you want to play in the evening hours.
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Speedlink Phantom Hawk, the economic alternative
Let's now move on to a product that is more suitable for all budgets and above all perfect for anyone who has never tried to approach flight simulators by holding a joystick. Thanks to its fantastic design and optimal ergonomics, the Speedlink Phantom Hawk stands as a perfect entry point for all those who want to try Microsoft Flight Simulator for the first time. Although it is not one of the most expensive peripherals on the market, this joystick has all the necessary elements to enjoy hours and hours of thrilling flights.
In fact, we have 12 fully programmable buttons, which will allow you to play any simulation game of flight like Microsoft Flight Simulator. Furthermore, you will be able to adjust the intensity of the vibration, thus having a shaking effect equal to that of a real flight experience, while the secure and ergonomic grip will ensure maximum control of the joystick even in the most complex situations.
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Thrustmaster T-16000M FCS Joystick, the left-handed alternative
Even if the the simulation genre is considered quite niche, the community of enthusiasts can count on a different choice of very varied products. One of these is the Thrusmaster T-16000M FCS joystick, one of the peripherals also designed for all those left-handed players. Obviously, this joystick also exists in a version suitable for right-handed people, and it is one of the most customizable peripherals currently on the market, thanks to the possibility of removing some of the components and the support for the T.A.R.G.E.T software that can be used on PCs, the which allows you to act directly on the customization of the buttons by composing your own customized dashboards at any time.
The T-16000M FCS has 4 independent axes, including the rotating rudder, as many as 16 action buttons, an 8-point hat switch directions and an ergonomic trigger, all designed to guarantee you the most realistic and accurate flying experience possible. The lower TWCS throttle position compared to other similar products will ensure unprecedented comfort, letting you use your left hand to increase speed and handle your aircraft skillfully.
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Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition, the real inspiration
Peripherals for simulators flight Let's stay on a Thrustmater branded product, but this time we offer you a model made in collaboration with Airbus. It is a very traditional joystick without any particular additions, but which in its simplicity will allow you to enjoy a flight experience very close to reality to the fullest and immediately. This joystick was inspired by the iconic Airbus sidestick through an ergonomic 1:1 scale replica.
In addition to the presence of 17 buttons, there are 4 interchangeable modules for the joystick head and 12 action buttons, for countless possibilities in flight and on the ground. The throttle, integrated into the base of the joystick, also features the thrust reverse function typical of airliners, allowing you to pilot in an extremely realistic way in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Finally, you will be able to adjust the configuration of the sidestick before each take-off, choosing between captain, co-pilot or solo, thus having three experiences in one.
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Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition, the best for Xbox
Flight simulator peripherals We close the offers branded Thrustmaster with a peripheral different from all those previously offered. It is a real flight stick made in a similar way to those used on Boeing aircraft. This product features a joystick plus throttle dial, both officially licensed by Boeing and Xbox and inspired by the iconic Boeing 787 airliner.
The TCA Yoke Boeing Edition peripheral is designed for Xbox One and Xbox Series X| S, but it is also compatible with PC, so you can use it on both platforms without problems, enjoying exceptional stability thanks to the internal structure of the stick made entirely of metal. Furthermore, all levers on the throttle dial are interchangeable, thus guaranteeing an excellent flying experience for both right-handed and left-handed users. Then there is the iconic Boeing autopilot function, for maximum realism in terms of altitude, aircraft course and speed.
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Logitech G Saitek Pro, Logitech's proposal
We close this list of the best peripherals for Microsoft Flight Simulator with the Logitech G Saitek Pro Joystick. This pick features a design that mimics a small aircraft yoke or Piper and features a stainless steel joystick that offers stable, smooth, and precise control of the virtual aircraft. There are 25 fully customizable buttons, while the control lever is equipped with a 3-position switch that will allow you to choose between 3 different profiles, for a total of 75 controls that you can adjust to your liking.
The joystick also features great ergonomics thanks to the stainless steel, which gives the player a comfortable feeling of constant control. In short, a choice that will please players who don't have a huge budget at their disposal and that will be able to give you excellent sensations on any flight route you want to simulate within the wonderful Microsoft Flight Simulator.
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How to choose a peripheral for Microsoft Flight Simulator
Let's take a small step back though. Before starting to list what are currently the best peripherals for Microsoft Flight Simulator on the market, it is fair to underline that there are different types of controllers and joysticks out there. There is no more right or wrong choice, given that each peripheral has its own particularities, and it is up to the individual player to aim to buy the version that is more in his or her pocket, also depending on the experience one has in the genre.
Before starting to draw up the various characteristics, we would like to underline the four macro-categories of peripherals and joysticks that can be purchased. We are talking about four configurations that are called respectively: HOTAS; HOSAK, HOSAM and HOSAS.
HOTAS
Let's start from the Hands on Throttle and Stick configuration: that is, a peripheral that includes a stick and a throttle, which therefore occupy both hands. This setting can include a throttle attached or separate from the stick. Models with separate throttles are generally more expensive but more comfortable.
HOSAK
The second configuration that you can find on the market is defined as Hands on Stick and Keyboard. With this type of device setting, only one stick is used, while with the free hand the keys on the keyboard are used to execute additional commands.
HOSAM
Thanks to the wide range and customization we also have a third and a fourth configuration. The penultimate one, Hands on Stick and Mouse, allows players to play with one hand controlling the joystick stick, and the free hand using the mouse. The HOSAM configuration is currently the setting that allows more precision.
HOSAS
We close with the final configuration, i.e. Hands on Stick and Stick . If you buy such a peripheral, know that you will have two sticks in your hands that will allow you to play while receiving maximum realism and access to multiple buttons.
Keys and buttons
With all these configurations may seem complex to find the perfect peripheral for your needs, but what should be emphasized is that the arrangement and number of buttons can also change from model to model. Obviously you will never have a peripheral with the exact amount of buttons, keys and levers as in real planes, but if you are new to this kind of experience it could seem quite confusing to understand the various features and actions that are activated or deactivated by the various keys.
Price
We come to deal with the question of price. With such a wide choice of products, the cost can skyrocket if you look at a mix of the various peripherals. There are configurations that require the use of more than one joystick to be used with both hands plus one (or more than one) dashboard with further buttons and additional commands. This type of configuration can considerably raise the required budget, but this does not mean that there are no cheaper peripherals on the market.
Of course, there are also cheaper peripherals, but what is important to underline is that in this field the price can go down together with the quality of the components. For this we need to move on to the next point.
Components
When we talk about peripherals for flight simulators, we cannot fail to touch on the point relating to the quality of the components. There are many different products out there that use rubber and hard plastic inserts, usually the cheapest, but if you want to increase your budget you can find peripherals with bases and various metal inserts that give greater durability and solidity to the product.
The same goes for the components such as buttons, triggers or levers present. Usually these are plastic components, but it is not so rare to also find rubber keys that make the general ergonomics of the product of excellent quality.
