Quick answer
Three officially licensed flight sticks are confirmed for Ace Combat 8: two versions of the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8 Edition (PlayStation/PC and Xbox/PC) and the HORI ACE COMBAT 8 Flight Stick (PS5/PS4/Windows PC).[1][2][3] On PS5, use the PlayStation NEO or the HORI. On Xbox Series X|S, use the Xbox NEO. On PC, all three are listed as compatible.
Support for other sticks and custom mapping is limited at launch. On September 30, Bandai Namco said that "some of the configuration options available for certain devices in ACE COMBAT 7 are not available in ACE COMBAT 8."[4]
Which stick works on which platform
| Device | PC | PS5 | Xbox Series X|S | Vibration | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.Flight HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8 Edition (PlayStation/PC) | Yes | Yes | No | PS5 and PC only | £109.99 (Thrustmaster UK store) |
| T.Flight HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8 Edition (Xbox/PC) | Yes | No | Yes | Xbox Series X|S and PC only | £109.99 (Thrustmaster UK store) |
| HORI ACE COMBAT 8 Flight Stick | Yes | Yes | No | Not listed | $129.99 (HORI USA store) |
| Any other HOTAS or stick | No official statement found | No official statement found | No official statement found |
Sources: Thrustmaster PlayStation/PC page,[1] Thrustmaster Xbox/PC page,[2] HORI product page.[3] Prices are as listed on those pages on October 1, 2026.
The hardware pages also mention PS4 and Xbox One. Those are the stick's compatible consoles, not game versions. Ace Combat 8 itself is released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.[5]
What Bandai Namco has said
The September 30 "Flight Stick Support Update" admits that some device configuration options from Ace Combat 7 are missing. It says "we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience". The team says it is working on improvements to bring the flight stick experience "closer to ACE COMBAT 7", but warns that "these changes may take time".[4] The update gives no date, patch number or device list.[4]
What reviewers found
DayOne's Jon Clarke reviewed the Xbox/PC NEO and published on September 25. He says the game "has specific support at launch for this flight stick", but has "no support to adjust or map your own controls".[6] He also writes that the game "bizarrely doesn't support any other HOTAS setups at launch". He already owned an X52 Pro HOTAS from other games, but says he needed new gear for this one.[6] This is one reviewer's experience on PC, not an official compatibility list.
So for VKB Gladiator, Thrustmaster T.16000M, Warthog, Logitech X52/X56 and other sticks: we found no official support statement for any platform. Treat them as unconfirmed.
Setup: pick, connect, choose a control mode
- Buy the version for your platform. The PlayStation/PC NEO does not cover Xbox, and the Xbox/PC NEO does not cover PS5.[1][2]
- Connect it. Thrustmaster describes both NEO versions as Plug & Play, with "mapping optimized for the game".[1][2] The NEO uses a 2 m USB-C to USB-A cable.[6]
- Xbox/PC NEO only: set the mode. Hold the View button for 5 seconds, then use the directional button on the joystick to switch between PC and Xbox mode. A green light means PC and a white light means Xbox.[6]
- HORI only: optional extras. The HORI has 8 assignable function buttons, and each can hold up to two functions. LED colours are set in a dedicated app (Windows 11).[3] For twin-stick control you need a second unit, sold separately.[3]
- In the game, choose your flight control mode. Standard turns the plane when you push the left stick left or right. Expert makes you roll first, then pitch to turn.[7] Bandai Namco says Expert "enables a wider range of aerial maneuvers and more precise aircraft control".[7]
Both licensed sticks have a dedicated High-G button for the series' High-G turn.[1][3]
Keybinds
We found no official keybind list for flight sticks. The DayOne review says the controls cannot be remapped at launch.[6] For gamepads, Steam lists the game with full controller support and DualShock and DualSense support.[8]
Sources & References
- Thrustmaster: T.FLIGHT HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Edition – PS5, PS4 & PC ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Thrustmaster: T.FLIGHT HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Edition – XBOX & PC ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4
- HORI USA: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Flight Stick for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE on Steam: "Flight Stick Support Update" (Sep 30, 2026) ↩ 1, 2, 3
- Bandai Namco Europe: "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE launches in Early Access" (Sep 29, 2026) ↩
- Jon Clarke, DayOne: "Thrustmaster T.Flight Neo | Ace Combat 8 Edition Review" (Sep 25, 2026) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE on Steam: "How to choose your difficulty in ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE" (Sep 18, 2026) ↩ 1, 2
- ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE on Steam ↩