Saitek makes new joystick for vr space games

At the end of May, Saitek will release the Pro Flight X-56 Rhino HOTAS, a two-piece joystick aimed at playing space sims. Saitek says the shape and placement of the buttons on the X-56 has been modified for use with VR headsets.

Saitek has based the Pro Flight X-56 Rhino HOTAS on the popular X-55, but adapted it to the demands of space sims. Like the X-55, the X-56 consists of two parts, a stick for the control and a separate part for throttle. With the X-56, Saitek has now added two small analog sticks so that pitch, roll, yaw, backwards, forwards, up, down, left and right can all be controlled separately.

Saitek has also slightly modified the shape and placement of the buttons, in the hope that the X-56 will be easier to operate when used in combination with a VR headset. Saitek states that this makes it easier to find the buttons by touch.

To emphasize that the X-56 is aimed at playing space sims, the joystick features striking blue color accents. In addition, the sticks are equipped with RGB lighting. The set is aimed at playing space sims like Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen, although traditional flight sims like Flight Simulator 2004 and X-Plane 10 can also be played with it. The X-56 will be available from May 30th and will retail for $250. It is not yet known what the price will be in Europe.