Turtle Beach’s new console controller for Microsoft Flight Simulator

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E3 2021 will take place from June 12th to 15th as a newly designed, completely virtual online event. Nintendo, Xbox, Bethesda, Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Capcom, and others will be delivering new video game announcements, trailers, release dates, and more.

We knew that Microsoft flight simulator has literally been on Xbox consoles for years. This week at E3, Microsoft finally announced a launch date – July 27th. What remained unclear to fans, however, was how they would actually fly these planes on a console. Sure, you could use an Xbox controller, but the grass is especially green on the PC side of the fence with a shipload of boutique controllers and high-end joysticks.

Don’t worry, console pilots, because Turtle Beach came to your rescue with the VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System. It’s a full-fledged yoke and throttle compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Windows 10. The announcement was made in a press release on Monday.

The VelocityOne is a one-piece yoke and accelerator pedal with many features that intelligently solve many problems when playing a flight simulator on a console. For example, it places the triggers and shoulder buttons on the front of the yoke. They allow players to maintain a coordinated flight and use the toe brakes without floor-mounted oar pedals that are difficult to operate while sitting on the couch.

There are also glowing status indicators built right into the dashboard. This means that on the final approach you don’t have to take your eyes off the windshield to make sure the landing gear is extended. There is also an exercise bike and interchangeable gas fobs – just like you will find on the highly regarded Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant. I particularly like the chic Schmancy chronometer right in the middle of the yoke, which should make it much easier for newcomers to navigate the entry-level class. Most interesting is a row of luminous multifunctional buttons on the right. They look like the kind of thing modders want to make transparent stickers for.

The VelocityOne flight is by far the most ambitious new consumer flight control device since what they were almost made for Star Citizen. We’ll have to wait until this summer to see if it lives up to expectations. It retails for $ 349.95 and pre-orders should start soon.

Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition

Prices at the time of publication.

The latest PC-compatible flight stick from Thrustmaster is a replica of the stick that was used to fly the Airbus A320. It’s also fully ambidextrous, including hot-swappable buttons on the left and right sides of the stick. If you’re planning on building a two-stick setup – perfect for Star Citizen or MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries – you are spot on.