Controllers for Xbox Game Pass on PC

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
1

My dad has recently retired for the 3rd or 4th time now at the age of 76. He was a private pilot for a few years in the 1970’s and when he said he wanted to find some new hobbies now that he has shut down his general contracting business I suggested flight simulation. He is interested but not knowledgeable at all in the realm of PC gaming. I am a 20+ year MSFS user though and can definitely guide him through getting started.

I don’t want him to have to make a large investment in a new PC, controllers, and software if it turns out to be something that is too overwhelming for him or just not interesting enough. My thought was to have him try MSFS with the XBox Game Pass on PC for a while and just purchase a joystick that will work with it. Is the Turtlebeach VelocityOne Flightstick a controller that will work with the Game Pass version of MSFS if streaming it? I figured if he decided he didn’t want to continue with it I could just buy the controller off him and use it myself. A couple years ago I tried using my Thrustmaster T16000M with the Game Pass version but it was not compatible.

2

Here is the official statement on Cloud Gaming and controllers;

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/games-apps/cloud-gaming/play-microsoft-flight-simulator-with-xbox-cloud-gaming

But mainly;

  • Flight sticks and other non-standard controllers are not yet supported on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft Flight Simulator can be played on an Xbox One console via cloud gaming using an Xbox Wireless Controller or Xbox-licensed gamepad.
3

Sounds like you’re specifically asking about Xbox Cloud Gaming rather than just Game Pass. The latter is typically installed and run locally, just on a subscription rather than purchased product.

I was about to post the link above, along with the following…

Flight sticks and other non-standard controllers are not yet supported on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft Flight Simulator can be played on an Xbox One console via cloud gaming using an Xbox Wireless Controller or Xbox-licensed gamepad.

4

Thanks - it sounds like that is not the route then. I can’t see him being happy a gamepad controller at all.

5

Is short-term xbox rental a possibility?

6

I do have an xbox I could loan him now that you mention that. It was my son’s but he wanted to sell it a while back so I bought it precisely for using MSFS on game pass for multiplayer flying with my boys. It doesn’t get used all that often.