Thrustmaster Unveils Ace Combat 8 Flight Stick With Vibration
The inclusion of vibration and a mini-stick, both requested by Bandai Namco Entertainment, shows the publisher is directly shaping peripheral design for Ace Combat 8, a level of involvement that goes beyond a standard licensed product.
Key Facts
- Thrustmaster announced the T.Flight HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Edition flight stick on August 6, 2026.
- The flight stick is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026.
- The controller comes in two variants: one for PC and PlayStation 5/4, and another for PC and Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One.
- The stick includes a vibration motor and a directional mini-stick, both requested by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
- Pre-orders began on August 6 in Japan through the official distributor Gate.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress).
Thrustmaster, through its official Japanese distributor Gate, announced a new flight stick controller for the upcoming game "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE." The controller, named "T.Flight HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Edition," is scheduled for release on October 2. It will be available in two model variants: one for PC and PlayStation 5/4 with an official PlayStation license, and another for PC and Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is around 28,000 yen including tax, though one source lists an estimated market price of 30,800 yen. The stick includes a vibration motor in the grip, a feature requested by Bandai Namco Entertainment, to transmit feedback from cannon fire, missile impacts, acceleration, and G-forces. It also adds a directional mini-stick on top of the stick, another request from the publisher. The controller uses magnetic hall effect sensors for precision and durability, and the throttle unit is detachable for flexible placement. Pre-orders began on August 6 in Japan, and the product carries an official license for both the game and PlayStation.
The T.Flight HOTAS NEO AC8 follows the design of Thrustmaster's earlier sticks, the T.Flight HOTAS One and T.Flight HOTAS 5, with detachable and combinable stick and throttle units. The new model adds the vibration motor and mini-stick as its key upgrades, both tied to Bandai Namco's requests. The vibration motor sits in the stick section and delivers feedback for specific in-game events, including machine gun fire, enemy attacks, and G-forces during acceleration and turns. The mini-stick, located at the top of the stick, gives pilots an additional control option.
The controller is officially licensed for both Ace Combat 8 and PlayStation, and the Xbox-compatible model carries a separate license. The two sources differ on pricing: GAME Watch lists an estimated market price of 30,800 yen, while 4Gamer.net gives a manufacturer's suggested retail price of around 28,000 yen including tax. In Japan, sales go through the official import distributor Gate, and pre-orders opened on August 6. The product is aimed at players who want a more immersive experience with Ace Combat 8 and other flight simulators.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 「ACE COMBAT 8」向けに振動機能やミニスティックを備えた分離合体型フライトスティックがThrustmasterから登場
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「エスコン8」仕様のフライトスティックがThrustmasterから登場！ 10月2日発売