The PS5 version of MSFS 2024 launched with extremely limited controller options, but the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 5 finally offers the entry-level that many may be looking for.
When the simulator released on Sony’s console, basically the only available option was the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4, designed over a decade ago for PS4. Despite its compatibility with the PS5, it certainly came with large shortcomings in terms of precision and even availability, with pricing all over the place due to its age.
With the launch of its successor, the T.Flight HOTAS 5 Microsoft Flight Simulator EDITION, Thrustmaster offers a product that is very similar to its predecessor only in appearance.
The main update, besides the addition of three buttons, is an improvement in control precision from 10-bit to 16-bit, which is definitely a large boost.
Having tested the HOTAS 4 extensively when the PS5 version launched, I found that it simply did not fit my requirements for a flight simulation controller in 2026, even at the entry level.
On the other hand, the HOTAS 5, with its boosted precision and a price set at $109.99 or €99.99, fills the gap in controller availability quite nicely.
A big perk that is not publicized enough (likely because it’s not officially endorsed by Sony) is the fact that it acts as an interface to let you connect a set of Thrustmaster TFRP Rudder Pedals to the PS5.
This clever system offers an expandability that is extremely precious in MSFS 2024, as there are no native rudder pedal options for the PS5 at the moment of this writing, and rudder pedals are the natural next step when you’re expanding your control hardware beyond the flight stick and throttle combo. The help they provide in learning to land properly, especially in crosswind conditions, cannot be overstated.
Incidentally, the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 5 also works for PS4 and PC, on top of PS5.
Below you can check out our overview of the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 5 in video form, including thrilling flight on an A-10 attack jet in the Grand Canyon, a more “relaxing” flight on a Cessna 172 around Jackson Hole airport and the Grand Teton National Park, and a look at the hardware itself.
For the sake of full disclosure, the T.Flight HOTAS 5 unit we tested was provided by Thrustmaster, while the T.Flight HOTAS 4 showcased for the comparison and the Thrustmaster TFRP Rudder Pedals used with the HOTAS 5 were both purchased out of pocket by the author about a decade ago.
That being said, this is not sponsored content, and this is not a review. As usual with us, we believe in giving you the knowledge, data, and details you need to make your own purchasing decisions instead of telling you whether you should or shouldn’t buy something. The video is a completely unscripted test of the hardware, including our unfiltered opinions and as many useful details as possible.
Of course, we’d appreciate it if you could like it and subscribe to our growing YouTube channel, as that’s always extremely helpful. Comments and feedback are also always welcome, even more so if you have questions and doubts, to which we’ll try to respond ASAP.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is currently available for PC, Xbox, and PS5.
If you’d like to read more flight simulation news, you can find plenty in our roundup article from yesterday.
If you want to go further back, we have a handy overview video of the major flight simulation news in the past week. You can watch it below. As usual, leaving a like and a comment and subscribing to our growing YouTube channel is extremely helpful.
While Simulation Daily is owned and financed by Orbx Simulation Systems, its staff is afforded full editorial independence and will strive to cover products from all companies and developers impartially. Check out our editorial policy.
