See which joysticks work with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5, why PC and Xbox sticks fail, and how to connect and configure one.
On PS5, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 works with PlayStation-compatible flight controls that the simulator recognises. The clearest conventional choice is the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4. Do not assume any USB joystick will work: Xbox-only and PC-only models, including many popular sticks and yokes, are not PS5-compatible.
This applies to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the version released on PS5 and PS5 Pro. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation.
Which PS5 joysticks are compatible with MSFS 2024?
The Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4 is the clearest named flight-stick option for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5.
| Device type | PS5 compatibility | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4 | Yes | Use its PlayStation mode and configure the axes inside MSFS 2024. |
| Other PlayStation-labelled flight sticks | Not guaranteed | The exact model must support PS5 and be recognised by MSFS 2024; a PlayStation logo alone does not guarantee a ready-made control profile. |
| Xbox-only joystick or HOTAS | No | Xbox compatibility does not transfer to PS5, even when the connector is standard USB. |
| PC-only USB joystick | Do not assume support | Generic Windows joystick support does not mean the PS5 will recognise the device. |
| DualSense controller | Yes | It controls the aircraft but is a gamepad rather than a dedicated flight stick. |
For other control types and platform differences, use our platform-by-platform MSFS 2024 controller compatibility breakdown.
Are the HOTAS 4 and HOTAS One interchangeable?
Choose the T.Flight HOTAS 4 for PlayStation; the similarly shaped T.Flight HOTAS One is the Xbox and PC variant. A mistake we see constantly is buying by product family without checking the console-specific suffix.
Why does a PC or Xbox joystick not work on PS5?
PS5 does not treat every USB joystick as a supported flight controller. The hardware must use the correct PlayStation compatibility mode, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 must know how to interpret its buttons and axes.
A joystick lighting up only proves that the USB port is supplying power. It does not prove that the console or simulator has identified the device. USB converters are not a dependable substitute because they may omit analogue axes, mislabel buttons or fail to authenticate with the console.
How do I set up a joystick in MSFS 2024 on PS5?
A supported PS5 joystick should appear as its own device in the simulator's control settings. Our HOTAS connection and control-mapping walkthrough covers the wider setup process; on PS5, use this order:
- Confirm the exact model. Check the label on the base, not just the product's general name. If it is marked only for Xbox or PC, it is the wrong version.
- Select PlayStation mode. If the device has a platform switch, set it before connecting the joystick. Install any manufacturer-supplied firmware update when one is available.
- Connect it directly. Plug the joystick into the PS5 rather than an unpowered hub, preferably before starting the simulator.
- Open the control settings. Confirm that the joystick appears separately from the DualSense, then load its default preset if one is offered.
- Check every analogue axis. Map aileron, elevator, rudder and throttle to analogue axis commands rather than left/right or increase/decrease button commands. Correct any reversed axis and add a small dead zone only if the controls drift.
- Test with a default aircraft. Save the working assignments as a custom profile before changing aircraft or adding more peripherals.
What if the joystick is detected but does not control the aircraft?
If MSFS 2024 detects the joystick but the aircraft does not respond, the usual cause is an empty, incorrect or conflicting control profile rather than PS5 compatibility.
- Move each axis in the control screen and verify that the input indicator moves smoothly through its full range.
- Remove duplicate bindings where the same axis is assigned to both the joystick and another controller.
- Reset to the device's default preset, if available, and test before creating custom mappings.
- Restart the simulator after reconnecting a device that was missing when the game launched.
- Test a standard aircraft to separate a controller problem from an aircraft-specific control configuration.
If the device appears normally but cockpit inputs still fail, follow our PS5 control-response troubleshooting steps.
Can I use rudder pedals or a yoke on PS5?
Rudder pedals and yokes work only when the exact hardware chain is PS5-compatible and supported by MSFS 2024. Pedals connected through a supported HOTAS base may be exposed through that device, while standalone USB pedals need their own console support.
Most PC and Xbox yokes cannot simply be moved to a PS5. Check our PS5 yoke compatibility guidance before buying or reconnecting one.