Thrustmaster Boeing Yoke Review for Xbox: It Works Right Out of the Box

Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Boeing Edition performs exceptionally well with Microsoft Flight Simulator on the Xbox Series X. The $ 499.99 kit, which includes a yoke and a separate throttle dial, is essentially a plug-and-play device. Let me say it again: the default settings work out of the box. Along with rudder pedals and a second throttle, it brings high-end flight simulation peripherals to the console for the first time. The system is also fully compatible with Windows PC.

Thrustmaster shipped an early unit to Polygon late last week, and we’ve been testing it for a couple of days. The centerpiece is the yoke itself, which works quite differently than others we’ve tried before. Traditionally, top-of-the-line models like the Honeycomb Aeronautical Alpha and the Turtle Beach VelocityOne, which will be released soon, rely on a steel shaft that plunges into the dash. Push the yoke in and the nose of the aircraft will lower; pull back and nose lifts. However, the TCA Yoke rotates on a hinge, which Thrustmaster claims simulates the floor-mounted yoke of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

While I’ve never flown a jumbo jet in real life, the TCA Yoke feels great to use. Best of all is the button layout, which divides the difference between a real Boeing-made yoke and an Xbox controller. There is even a small platform to support your phone, tablet, or paper flight plan. Everything you need to fly an airplane is right where it should be and labeled like on an Xbox controller. Makes learning the controls a breeze.

With any high-end controller, setting it up correctly is both an art and a skill. But Microsoft Flight Simulator recognizes the TCA yoke when plugged in. I just plugged in the USB cable, activated the first landing challenge I could find, adjusted the fins, released the gear, and pulled the throttles. After spending years struggling with setups in games like Weapon 3 and IL-2: Sturmovic, the simplicity was shocking.

There are some quirks, no doubt. I still need the Xbox controller to interact with the menus, for example. Thrustmaster tells us that their engineers are still putting the finishing touches on the setup, so that may change. My biggest complaint is that when using only the TCA yoke without pedals, the rudder sits in the hat switch on the right. It’s a bit tricky, if I’m honest, and it’s not my preferred way of flying, especially with a large airliner on final approach.

That’s where the expandability of the device comes in.

Polygon was shipped on TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition ($ 499.99), which includes the yoke and a separate throttle, officially called the TCA Quadrant Boeing Edition. They also sent us an identical secondary throttle ($ 149.99) and a set of TPR pendulum rudder pedals (about $ 600 right now Amazon). The four devices are connected in a chain, with the pedals connected to the secondary throttle, the secondary throttle to the primary, and the primary to the yoke. That leaves only one USB cable to connect to the Xbox Series X.

Miraculously, everything works. It’s a testament to the rigorous design work done by Thrustmaster, which in turn builds on the solid foundation provided by the developers at Asobo Studio. The creators of Microsoft Flight Simulator They’ve spent years playing around with their own cockpit in the studio built out of an old plane, and it’s really starting to pay off.

This is, of course, a tremendously expensive hardware solution. Do you need a kit worth $ 1,250 to fly a plane on your Xbox? Absolutely not. The basic Xbox controller works fine. But before the Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Boeing Edition system, there were simply no high-end options available for consoles. That meant buying a PC, which costs a lot more than an Xbox. Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox Series X, combined with this new Thrustmaster system, lowers the barrier of entry for a serious flight simulation by hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition includes the yoke and a single independent throttle quadrant, as well as an additional bracket to mount the throttle on your desk. The bundle will go up for pre-order on Tuesday, November 9 for $ 499.99. The standalone throttle costs $ 149.99 and can be pre-ordered the same day. It does not come with a stand. Delivery is expected by Christmas, and retail availability for both products is scheduled for December 23.

The yoke alone, which retails for $ 399.99, won’t be available until early next year. Similarly, TPR pendulum rudder pedals are in short supply and they’re looking for inflated prices online. Thrustmaster says the system is also compatible with the least expensive ones. Thrustmaster TFRP pedals (which are also a hot product at the moment), but so far we haven’t been able to test them.

The Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition and Supplemental Throttle Quadrant were overhauled with final retail units provided by Thrustmaster. Vox Media has affiliate associations. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. You can find Additional information on Polygon’s ethics policy here.