It feels flimsy, and the markings on the stick’s base don’t do much to help you gauge positioning. The throttle slider is the Sidestick’s biggest weak point.
The stick also ships with swappable side buttons that let you set it up as the right or left seat of an airliner based on where you place the wider red button module, or you can go with the narrow or wide options on both sides. There are 12 buttons on the base and four on the stick, as well as an 8-way hat switch (for looking around the cockpit), a twist lock, and a throttle slider that can be configured to serve as an extra “button” at the bottom of its throw. The Sidestick is not lacking in input options or customizability. The base is solid enough, the movement of the stick itself is convincing, and it’s just vastly more satisfying to use than a gamepad. But overall, I was impressed for the price. I wouldn’t describe the Sidestick as a premium product, as it does feel a little plasticky in places.
(Its full name is the TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition.) It’s designed as a 1:1 replica of the sidestick used in the Airbus A320 - a famous differentiator from Boeing’s traditional yokes - and it works with Microsoft Flight Simulator right out of the box without any need for setup. I expect that Thrustmaster’s new $69.99 Airbus-branded Sidestick, which I’ve been testing for a while, will be a popular choice. How Microsoft Flight Simulator returned to the skies
