Saitek is not the same original company as Logitech. Learn who acquired the brand, why controls carry both names and which drivers to use.
For general flight simulation, Saitek and Logitech were not originally the same company. Logitech acquired the Saitek brand and simulation-controller line from Mad Catz in 2016. From then on, Saitek became part of Logitech's hardware range, and many Pro Flight products continued under Logitech G branding with closely related designs.
Why do flight controls carry both Saitek and Logitech names?
They carry both names because ownership changed while much of the established product range continued. Before Logitech's acquisition, products such as the Pro Flight Yoke, rudder pedals, instrument panels and X-series controllers were sold under Saitek branding, sometimes alongside the Mad Catz name.
After the acquisition, Logitech continued many of those designs under Logitech G. Packaging, manuals, Windows device names and software can therefore use different branding for hardware from the same family. Our comparison of CH and Logitech/Saitek control ecosystems gives more background on where these products fit.
| Marking on the product | What it usually indicates | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Saitek or Saitek Pro Flight | Original or legacy branding | Identify the exact model before choosing software or accessories. |
| Mad Catz/Saitek | Hardware sold while Mad Catz owned Saitek | It may belong to the same product family later continued by Logitech. |
| Logitech G | Post-acquisition branding | The design may closely resemble its Saitek predecessor, but revisions can exist. |
Are Saitek and Logitech versions identical?
Saitek- and Logitech-branded versions are often closely related, but the badge alone does not prove that two units are identical. Production revisions, USB hardware identifiers, firmware, bundled software and included cables can differ.
A particularly common trap involves the Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant. The standalone version connects by USB, while the quadrant bundled with some yokes uses a PS/2-shaped connector intended for the yoke's dedicated throttle port. That connector does not make it a normal PC PS/2 device, so the two versions are not direct substitutes.
Do not assume power adaptors, proprietary cables, throttle units or replacement parts are interchangeable simply because both products belong to the Saitek/Logitech family. Match the full model or product number and the connector type.
Which Saitek or Logitech driver should I install?
Use the software intended for the exact model and hardware revision, regardless of which brand name Windows displays. A mistake we see often is choosing a package solely from the logo printed on the casing.
- Read the product label. Record the complete model or product number from the underside or rear of the controller.
- Check the connection type. Confirm whether the device connects directly by USB or through another controller such as a yoke.
- Test it in Windows. Run
joy.cpland check that the axes, buttons and hat switches respond before changing simulator settings. - Install only the required software. Avoid stacking unrelated legacy Saitek and Logitech packages. Switch, radio and multi panels may need separate plug-in software; our panel installation checklist covers that distinction.
- Create simulator bindings. Remove duplicate axis assignments, then calibrate and set dead zones where necessary. For Microsoft's latest simulator, use our MSFS 2024 configuration procedure.
Windows may identify an older Saitek unit with a Logitech-related name, or retain the Saitek name after Logitech software is installed. That alone is not a fault. If a yoke does not appear in joy.cpl, follow our hardware-specific yoke fault checks before rebuilding simulator profiles.
Will old Saitek controls still work with modern simulators?
Many older Saitek yokes, sticks, throttles and pedals still work on Windows PCs because their ordinary axes and buttons are visible to the operating system. Support for displays, LEDs, mode selectors and instrument panels is more dependent on the correct software or simulator plug-in.
Compatibility is determined by the exact device, operating system and simulator—not by the Saitek or Logitech logo alone. USB connection also does not guarantee console support; older PC-oriented Saitek controls should not be presumed compatible with Xbox or PlayStation.