PC & Controls
ACE COMBAT 8 HOTAS Support & Setup
Use the model and platform shown in the table. Manufacturer compatibility guidance; no hands-on device test.
At a glance
Officially documented options include HORI SPF-034 on PS5 and Windows 11 Steam, plus the platform-specific T.Flight HOTAS NEO models. Thrustmaster requires NEO mode for ACE COMBAT 8; on PC, install the manufacturer’s TFHT driver to enable that mode.
Scroll the comparison table sideways to see every column.
Match the device to your platform
Some peripheral configurations supported in ACE COMBAT 7 do not currently work in the same way in ACE COMBAT 8, according to the publisher’s September 30 announcement. Improvements were being pursued; that announcement does not give a confirmed completion date or mean every HOTAS is unsupported.
| Device / platform | Manufacturer-documented setup |
|---|---|
| HORI SPF-034 / PS5 | Switch set to PS5; both FLIGHT and PAD modes supported |
| HORI SPF-034 / Windows 11 Steam | Switch set to PC; both FLIGHT and PAD supported; USB Type-A |
| HORI SPF-034 / Xbox | Xbox is not listed as a supported platform for this model |
| T.Flight HOTAS NEO / PS5 | PS5 NEO mode, red LED |
| T.Flight HOTAS NEO X / Xbox Series X|S | Xbox Series X|S NEO mode, white LED |
| Either NEO model / PC | Install TFHT driver; PC NEO mode, green LED |
The PS5 NEO and Xbox NEO X are different models. HORI’s mention of PS4 hardware support does not establish a PS4 edition of ACE COMBAT 8.
Connect and check the controls
- Confirm the exact model and set its hardware switch for your platform before connecting it.
- On PC, get the required driver from the manufacturer’s support page.
- After connection, compare the LED and mode with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Open the game’s control settings and check inputs and button mappings.
- Use practice flight to check pitch, roll, acceleration, braking and High-G inputs.
Without the PC driver, a NEO device may be in Legacy mode with a red LED. Legacy duplicates the mini-stick’s input with the POV control and does not provide vibration; it should not be treated as equivalent to the NEO mode required for this game.
Limits to the support claim
Thrustmaster’s PS5 NEO product page lists vibration for PS5 and PC. Do not transfer that claim to the NEO X’s Xbox specification. Videos using conversion software with other sticks do not establish native support for those devices.
These are manufacturer instructions, not a test of every device and firmware combination. If a mapping still fails, record the device model, platform, driver and mode rather than assuming an ACE COMBAT 7 profile will work unchanged.
HORI compatibility · HORI specifications · Thrustmaster NEO modes