Microsoft Flight Simulator is a criminally underrated game, mostly because of the implied skill ceiling that realistic sims usually demand. However, it's actually extremely approachable thanks to a wide array of difficulty-tweaking options and a decent training segment that masquerades as a virtual flight school. Of course, a purpose-built controller can also help you feel immersed, but it's a confusing category for newcomers.
So, at the peak of last summer, I met with the engineers and peripheral designers at Honeycomb Aeronautical to see their latest entry-level flight sticks, HOTAS setups, and accompanying rudder pedals, with the mission of attracting new players. However, I was far more interested in a prototype Xbox-style joypad lying on a desk, covered with minuscule throttles and levers, instantly calling it "the coolest f—ing thing I've seen".
That great work-in-progress evolved into the game-changing Echo Aviation Controller, and one of my sole complaints was the lack of Xbox console support (though I knew it was planned for the future). Well, the future is now, as Honeycomb Aeronautical recently announced the Echo Aviation Controller XPC — compatible with XBOX Series X|S and, naturally, Windows PC — with plans to start shipping "from Fall this year".
Now, I usually wouldn't give much time to a standard press release — especially one without a concrete release date — but Honeycomb gets a pass for delivering exactly what I wanted. You'll get TMR and Hall-Effect sensors for drift-free inputs, alongside the strangely addictive experience of flying a replica plane with dedicated controls for landing gear, parking brakes, and flaps. It's more alluring than you might think.
We’re committed to broadening the audience for flight simulation, allowing console owners to experience the thrill of flight in a more relaxed environment, and the Echo Aviation Controller XPC is our first flight into consoles but certainly will not be the last.
Marc Küpper, Honeycomb Aeronautical CTO
It might look a bit strange at first glance, almost like two controllers fused together, but I warmed up to it extremely quickly, and I still use the original when I'm playing MSFS 2024 on PC over some of the best flight sticks. The only real downside to this XPC edition is that it could make the PC-only Echo somewhat defunct, depending on how much you crave Xbox-style face buttons. I've reached out to the company for any comments they may have on that.
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