Take Flight and Go Full Maverick With Turtle Beach's All-New Designed for Xbox Velocityone Flightstick

[TheLostSwede]

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation today unveiled its all-new, eagerly anticipated Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick, a universal simulation controller joystick for air and space combat simulation games. Designed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs, the VelocityOne Flightstick is the gaming flight stick of the future, equipping gamers with immersive, accurate controls for navigating air and space flight sim and combat games. A total of eight axes, including contactless hall effect sensors on the main X&Y axes, provide precise control while two multifunction levers handle main engine power and adjustment of control surfaces. VelocityOne Flightstick's precise nano trim wheel allows for fine tuning of altitude, and an OLED Flight Management Display makes for easy adjustments. With 27 programmable buttons, a rapid-fire trigger, an integrated trackpad, and Bluetooth connectivity to its companion app, Turtle Beach's VelocityOne Flightstick arms gamers on Xbox and Windows PCs with a multitude of controls. VelocityOne Flightstick is available for pre-order now from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for $129.99 (£119.99/€129.99) MSRP and launches November 17, 2022.

"VelocityOne Flightstick melds Turtle Beach's expertise in controller design with the latest technologies to give air and space combat sim gamers a groundbreaking, modern flight stick controller experience," said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. "While our award-winning VelocityOne Flight products continue to impress the flight simulation community, there's a massive audience of gamers who love air and space flight combat, making the Flightstick perfect for games like Microsoft Flight Sim 2020, X-Plane, Elite Dangerous, War Thunder, Star Citizen, Everspace, and Star Wars flight games to name a few. However gamers want to fly - whether casually, or by the seat of their pants with their hair on fire - it'll be a better experience with VelocityOne Flightstick in their hands."




Additionally, gamers who know there are no points for second place can also download the latest Maverick expansion update in Flight Simulator 2020 and take to the skies flying the same training runs and missions as if they are the world's gutsiest fighter pilot.

Full details on Turtle Beach's all-new, groundbreaking VelocityOne Flightstick include:

• 8 High-Precision Axes: High-resolution, contactless sensors on the main stick axes (left/right, forward/back, and twist) provide precise response and extended longevity to the main stick controls. A nano trim wheel allows for fine tuning of attitude, and an analog POV hat delivers finite adjustment to cockpit views or strafe thrusters in space sims.
• Multifunction Throttle & Flap Levers: Throttle levers control main engine power, while flap levers let gamers quickly adjust secondary control surfaces. Plus, swappable throttle tops allow for customization of controls for fighter jets, or airliners.
• Multiplatform Compatibility: Connect via the included 10 ft/3 m USB-C to USB-A cable and play fan-favorite titles on Xbox or Windows PCs with an integrated input mode switch. Optimized for maximum compatibility on each platform, the VelocityOne Flightstick is built for navigating air and space flight simulation & combat games on Xbox and Windows PCs.
• 27 Programmable Buttons: Equipped with an 8-way digital POV hat, rapid-fire trigger, stick-mounted buttons, dual throttle lever detents, and eight programmable base buttons, gamers are well-armed with controls for their most critical flight functions.
• Flight Management Display: An integrated OLED Flight Management Display lets gamers tune performance to suit the game being played. Plus, pilots can adjust control profiles, trim wheel input mode, rudder lock and more.
• Flight Configuration Wheel: Navigate the Flight Management Display and configure the Flightstick using the intuitive rotary dial with click at base of the stick. Browse through the configuration options and update the product performance in real-time with all information stored in on-board memory.
• Touchpad Navigation Sensor: The touch sensor with precision button press gives full control of mouse cursor functionality, which is ideal for navigating simulation systems, and can also be used for weapon control in popular air & space combat sim titles.
• Ambidextrous Design: Designed to control fighter jets or airliners, the main stick has an ergonomic, ambidextrous shape with a reversible wrist rest. Plus, with eight programmable base buttons, gamers can set up the controls to their exact preference regardless of which hand is on the controls.
• Pro-Aim Focus Mode: Adjust main stick sensitivity for accurate enemy targeting and precise control of landings.
• The Turtle Beach Audio Advantage: Connect any 3.5 mm headset and take advantage of proven Turtle Beach audio functions like Superhuman Hearing, EQ modes, Mic Monitoring, and Game & Chat Balance.
• Xbox Navigation Controls: Effortlessly control your console with licensed Xbox buttons. An additional white LED indicates successful connection and operation.
• Bluetooth Companion App: Connect tablets or smartphones to adjust product performance on Windows PCs using the Flightstick app available for iOS & Android devices.
• Adjustable RGB Lighting: Set the color, brightness, and response of multiple RGB LED zones.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Chaitanya]

• Adjustable RGB Lighting: Set the color, brightness, and response of multiple RGB LED zones.

so even input devices for simulators are infected with RGB scourge.

 

[cvaldes]

so even input devices for simulators are infected with RGB scourge.

Most RGB devices can have the feature turned off. In most instances you aren't forced to use the rainbow color patterns either. You can use a subtle lighting scheme like white at a low setting. Or maybe you could set it to red to simulate that type of low light illumination scheme.

There have been industrial grade joysticks for 30+ years that have no RGB lighting as well.

The last sentence of the press release even states that the lighting feature is adjustable.

Bitching about choice is so strange. No one is holding a gun at your head telling you to buy this or suffer the consequences. Vote with your wallet and let those who want RGB illumination enjoy having this new offering as a purchase option.

Should we complain when an automobile has an option for a convertible top? Should we bitch about a stereo receiver that has an adjustable EQ? How about active noise cancellation for a set of headphones or earbuds?

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Most RGB devices can have the feature turned off.

Without a choice to purchase without RGB, this option is the only solution to being denied a choice. #sayNO2rgb™ becomes more meaningful.

 

[cvaldes]

Without a choice to purchase without RGB, this option is the only solution to being denied a choice. #sayNO2rgb™ becomes more meaningful.

In the end, the wider buying audience influences what products are taken to market.

There's a very high probability that somewhere in Turtle Beach's lab, there's a non-RGB prototype of this very flightstick. These companies all create multiple designs with different combinations of components, features, etc. and only bring one or two to market.

There's no engineering reason why Turtle Beach can't make a non-RGB version of this product. It's a business decision. Some executives think that many potential buyers will find the RGB lighting feature as something worth having.

Some people online don't get this at all. If something doesn't fall into their personal usage case or desire, they blatantly ignore that others have different usage cases and desires.

So strange.

 

[ZoneDymo]

sexy but lets get some more games that work well with these controls while we are at it

 

[thegnome]

The RGB is nice, but should have a physical button to turn off for those who deem it to be another hog...

 

[cvaldes]

The RGB is nice, but should have a physical button to turn off for those who deem it to be another hog...

My guess is that the addition of an RGB lighting on-off switch will not substantially increase sales.

Hell, it might even increase tech support calls. "Hey, my RGB stopped working!!! Your product is defective! You guys suck!!! I want a refund!"

 

[golbee112]

Seems like an interesting middle-ground between mediocre $50 thrustmaster sticks and boutique $200+ devices aimed at hardcore enthusiasts. Just hoping that when manufacturer boast about compatibility with space sims (and the stick itself being ambidextrous), they've designed the software well enough to handle a pair of these connected at once - on PC at least.

edit: corrected "flight sims" to "space sims" as that's where dual sticks are very popular.

 

[RandomWan]

so even input devices for simulators are infected with RGB scourge.

I mean, I wouldn't term this as an 'input device for a simulator', so they're safe from RGB...for now.

 

[cvaldes]

Seems like an interesting middle-ground between mediocre $50 thrustmaster sticks and boutique $200+ devices aimed at hardcore enthusiasts. Just hoping that when manufacturer boast about compatibility with flight sims (and the stick itself being ambidextrous), they've designed the software well enough to handle a pair of these connected at once - on PC at least.

Well, that's a big part of the purchase decision that isn't always mentioned: software quality. However this device is heavily targeted as a video game console accessory, it'll be interesting to review eventual reviews how well it integrates with Xbox.

 

[ShiBDiB]

Seems like an interesting middle-ground between mediocre $50 thrustmaster sticks and boutique $200+ devices aimed at hardcore enthusiasts. Just hoping that when manufacturer boast about compatibility with flight sims (and the stick itself being ambidextrous), they've designed the software well enough to handle a pair of these connected at once - on PC at least.

This definitely seems marketed more towards plug and play with an Xbox with PC as an afterthought. Does Xbox even have any/enough flight sims to justify this purchase? Never saw ace combat as something you'd buy a joystick for.

 

[cvaldes]

This definitely seems marketed more towards plug and play with an Xbox with PC as an afterthought. Does Xbox even have any/enough flight sims to justify this purchase? Never saw ace combat as something you'd buy a joystick for.

Xbox has the one that counts: Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Unsurprisingly Turtle Beach did not make their product compatible with PlayStation 5 since MSFS doesn't run on that platform.

The press release does list a number of gaming titles involving fictitious aircraft/spacecraft that aren't strict simulations like MSFS and X-Plane. Clearly the product is designed to appeal to a larger audience than just flight sim fanatics.

 

[erocker]

Actually looks pretty interesting for an "all-in-one" flightstick.

 

[applejuice]

Looks like we've got a Turtle Beach rep in the comments.

 

[sepheronx]

Looks like we've got a Turtle Beach rep in the comments.

Who is it?

 

[Kohl Baas]

This definitely seems marketed more towards plug and play with an Xbox with PC as an afterthought. Does Xbox even have any/enough flight sims to justify this purchase? Never saw ace combat as something you'd buy a joystick for.

Until you try it with a controller and found out how disappointingly they solved the problem of throttle... You literally need to have a joystick to have throttle in ace combat, otherwise you have like a 600-ish baseline speed and a "faster" and "slower" button, one keep you accelerating to max speed the other deccelerates to zero. If you release any of them the plane returns to the baseline. You can't set any other speed.