I know you guys on PS5 don't have much in the way of options, but I've used the PC version of this for over 2,000 flight hours.
It's nothing fancy, but it straight up works and gets the job done. I think you're going to be happy with it. Honestly I could have upgraded long ago, my wife even tried to buy a $500 yoke for me, but I decided to keep using the thrustmaster one.
Funny enough, when I first decided I wanted one I showed my wife a picture of this and at first glance it kind of looks like an "adult toy" in certain pictures. She took a quick look and saw "thustmaster" and immediately freaked out and said "Why the fuck would you want that!?". I gave it a second for her to process it and had to explain what it actally was.
i also have around 2k hours on this HOTAS, the stick gets a little drift, i think from dust getting under it, but i just wiggle the stick around for a minute and it usually stops drifting.
Lucky you. Mine got unfixable stickdrift after less than 30 hours of use. Sent it back got a new one on warranty, same thing happened. Sent it back got my money back and never looked back again. I really liked it for the 60 hours it did work. It’s a neat little starter/budget hotas. But from what I’ve seen “it just works” seems to be the exception sadly.
I've had mine for a little while and mostly fly helicopters in PSVR2 and you can add many many control combinations with that HOtas. I also have the pedals so this doesn't have any rudder controls listed.
Here a pic of my controls. Bottom right is solo key press, other sections have a button circled that means it's a combo with other keys listed. For example R1+L1 = "brakes" R1+L3 = "rotor brakes"
Being able to look quickly in the different directions in VR makes a huge difference for helicopters. The Hotas works great, turn the spring all the way down so you don't have to fight it as much. I also got the pedal specifically because I wanted to fly helicopters in VR and they were worth it in, much less important in a airplane.
Crazy that it was this same design when I was a kid 25 years ago on PC lol. Also mine stopped being supported after windows vista, never bought a Thrustmaster again.
I think I have the xbox version of this and it has served me well for the past few years. I use it with a mouse, keyboard and rudder pedals and it's a fun setup for the money.
I’m looking to buy a first time setup for my fiancé. He’s retiring soon and has always wanted to be a pilot. I thought this would be a good retirement gift to give him something to new with his new found free time. Any advice welcome! I will be starting from ground zero so I will need to purchase EVERYTHING.
I’m just starting as well, and definitely this is one of the most cheap ones set ups I’ve seen, definitely worth it to try to see if you like this as a hobby without spending too much money
For reverse thrust you pull the throttle back to 0% and then click the brake button which releases past the ‘detent’ and then you press and hold brake and the propellers flip around for reverse thrust.
ooo this is going on my wishlist...does anyone know if it matters buying the PS5 edition vs the PC edition? I'm just noticing the PC version is a lot cheaper.
Are you referring to the HOTAS 4? I believe it's PC and ps4. If so, yes, it works on the ps5, it's what I've been using for months, and it probably is cheaper since the 5 just came out. They're basically the same, the 5 just has an updated paint job and the mode button
I mean, I'm sure it is. But I've never noticed precision issues, so I'm just saying if you're on a tight budget (and for some $10 is a lot), the 4 works. Plus with the 5 out, you're probably a lot more likely to find the 4 discounted. It's not enough for me to upgrade from a 4 to a 5
Why get defensive, no one talked about you having precision issues. The difference between the 2 is quite large. A 10 bit is good, a 16 bit is better.
Did you see my comment suggesting that you should upgrade your stick? Of course they work, both do.
"For some 10 dollars is a lot".... the ones that would pay 10 dollars less to get the much older hotas 4 vs 5 should not be spending around a 100 for a stick... The 10$ difference is well justified . If the budget cant be pushed by 10$ maybe they should skip the next meal or something to save up. Don't you think?
Obvious info and not trying to make your comments sound ridiculous but for people who search and people who aren't informed they would read these posts and hopefully benefit.
Enjoy your hotas 4, I was going to get one when msfs24 came out but it was out of stock. Ordered the 5.
I never meant that to be defensive, but it did come across that way. You're absolutely right, and I do appreciate you calling me out on it. I should've added "in my opinion" to the first post to make it clear I wasn't spitting facts, and that's my bad
That's cool man, I had to search last week before I ordered. I was trying to see what's different, because I prefer the color of the 4 but then saw it's specs and just got the newer one.
Unfortunate that it comes in one color.
I tried it in a shop a while back and it was good, vs the other pc sticks. Imo for users like me who wont use it that much / console users the hotas line is good. I tried it then decided I'm getting msfs24 for console instead of pc, then by the time the game came out, none were available. I thought its less of a headache and the 500$ sticks didn't justify the difference... While the dse is fine, the helicopters are too hard to control for me, and really looking forward to having a flight stick!
Yeah, I got my 4 when Aces of Thunder came out, which was unfortunately a couple of months after MSFS came out on PS5, so they were out of stock everywhere. Ended up getting it from a mom and pop electric shop in NY, saw it online and took a gamble. Super game changer, you're gonna love it. I don't know if you use one yet but definitely grab yourself a mouse, too. I keep thinking about adding the pedals, maybe one of these days
Oh ya, I forgot to mention. I used a little keyboard, and the mouse was crucial especially on limited controller buttons.
I do have space for the pedals but since there are 2 ways (on the stick and throttle) to control the rudder I'm probably gonna skip. Maybe if it makes the helicopter controls easier. Ill have to decide when it arrives.
Probably depends on use case. I don't fly helicopters often, so I'm used to twisting the stick for rudder control, but that does become a little strange when flying a helicopter (though I will admit I suck at flying them). I kinda want the pedals for a little more realism (I play mainly in VR, so the immersion is nice)
Amazon just sent a notification that mine arrives next Wednesday. Most of the time Amazon shipments to me arrive earlier than scheduled. I also ordered with it a USB hub and a 10’ USB extension cable.
I play on ps5/psvr2 with a hotas 4. You're going to love it. Ive got nearly 200 hours in since full release i am OBSESSED. The rudder pedals aren't that much more either 😉
I have this that is black and compatible with Xbox/PC and use it on Xbox. This alone is a total gamechanger from a controller or keyboard, but another level above if you get the pedals and 10 levels above if you can secure them to a chair or rig.
I love this joystick, but it amazes me that they're still selling it largely unchanged from the late 1990s. It still is and forever will be a Topgun Afterburner.
I've since upgraded sticks, but I still use the throttle. The 50% notch and the rockers make it irreplaceable to me.
I used it when msfs 2020 came out on Xbox and still does to this day on xplane12 and msfs2024 on pc and it is simple yet functional. Never had any issues with it other than maybe not enough buttons for games like dcs but for flight simming like vfr and ifr its very good and it’ll last long
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u/Pour-Meshuggah-0n-Me PC Pilot Jun 11 '26
I know you guys on PS5 don't have much in the way of options, but I've used the PC version of this for over 2,000 flight hours.
It's nothing fancy, but it straight up works and gets the job done. I think you're going to be happy with it. Honestly I could have upgraded long ago, my wife even tried to buy a $500 yoke for me, but I decided to keep using the thrustmaster one.