737 MAX on Xbox with controller: aircraft keeps sinking / nose pitching down after takeoff even with correct setup

Please add the msfs-2020 or msfs-2024 tag to your post, depending on which sim your post is about.

Hi everyone,

I’m writing because I’m having a very specific issue with the default 737 MAX in MSFS 2024 on Xbox, and at this point I really don’t think it’s just bad setup or bad flying on my part.

The problem is this: after takeoff, as soon as I try to fly the aircraft manually, the airplane tends to sink and/or the nose pitches down in a way that feels wrong and very hard to control. If I try to compensate with trim, the reaction becomes too strong in the opposite direction. In other words, without enough trim the aircraft sinks, but if I add trim it can quickly become too aggressive. The behavior feels abnormal, not like a normal need to trim a Boeing properly.

A very important detail: I fly using a standard Xbox controller, not a joystick/yoke/sidestick. I know some people use the controller only for FMC/MCDU inputs and fly with a stick, but in my case I am fully hand-flying with the Xbox controller. So I would really like feedback specifically from people who fly the 737 MAX on Xbox with the controller itself.

I want to clarify that I have already checked a lot of things very carefully:

  • the aircraft is set up correctly for departure

  • I verified trim bindings and there are no obvious duplicate trim assignments

  • AI auto trim is OFF

  • assisted controller sensitivity was tested and turning it off did not solve the issue

  • other assistance settings were checked as well

  • CG is in a normal range (around 28% MAC), so it does not look like an extreme balance issue

  • I also tested different controller sensitivity settings

  • I tried different trim techniques

  • I even tried the workaround some users mentioned, such as retracting flaps immediately after takeoff, but the aircraft still sinks

  • I tested different starting conditions, including trying things quickly from the runway

Another important point: with Airbus aircraft on the same Xbox/controller setup, I do not have this problem. That is why I’m struggling to believe this is just a generic controller issue.

So at this point I’m trying to understand whether:

  1. this is a known issue with the default 737 MAX on Xbox when flown with a controller,

  2. there is some hidden setting/conflict I may still have missed,

  3. or whether the aircraft currently just does not behave properly in this situation.

Related report: 737 MAX on Xbox with controller: aircraft keeps sinking / nose pitching down after takeoff despite correct setup