Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 4 highly recommend NOT BUYING IT!

[SpaceMachine]

A few weeks ago, I purchased the Thrustmaster from Argos for £47, thinking I was getting a bargain.

First impressions were mixed, mostly because of the build quality and cheap plastic used throughout.

I updated the firmware due to initial calibration issues, configured the bindings and adjusted deadzones for the stick. I had a tough time achieving a setup with high fidelity and no drift - having also tinkered with the stick resistance - but I got there in the end. Thing is, I was never truly happy about the feel of the stick. Noisy too, like proper squeaky. And the throttle..? Worse still, with almost zero resistance between minimum and maximum settings aside from the notch at half-way. Even when configured for forward-only throttle, setting the throttle accurately wasn't really possible. What's the point in using a HOTAS if the controls aren't accurate? And therein lies the real problem with the Thrustmaster - resolution, or lack of it.

Going back to the DualShock after a fortnight with the HOTAS, the difference in fidelity was immediate.

Argos have a consumer-friendly returns policy, so I dropped it off for a refund a few days ago.

It's a shame there's no alternative from Logitech. Having said that, I don't see any benefit to using a HOTAS over a DualShock now, so even if there was a better quality (albeit more expensive) alternative I don't think I would bother. There was no added immersion factor - and that was with the T.Flight attached to my Playseat. For me, a HOTAS only makes sense in VR. Since that's never coming to the current generation of PlayStation, I think I'll stick with the DualShock and its high-resolution sticks, motion-control headlook and built-in rumble feedback.

The Logitech G29 that I use for Project Cars is a world apart in both form and function - the G29 is an absolute necessity when playing Project Cars and feels great to use. I appreciate that the T.Flight is a much cheaper product, but in reality it feels like a toy and doesn't do anything for me immersion-wise. When I have a PC with a VR headset, then a HOTAS will be an absolute necessity. But not a cheap and nasty Thrustmaster, that's for sure.

Try before you buy!

 

[Techup]

Always nice to see a contrasting opinion of a product after time spent with it.

I was wanting to get one but just can't really afford a peripheral that I'd only be using for a single game. Either way, it's nice to see the different opinion from a lot of others.

 

[robjef]

Interestingly, I just bought a second after getting fed up with the issues (more or less same as OP's) I had with my first Hotas. I decided to buy another one having read many conflicting views about the PS4 Hotas. To my surprise the Hotas I recieved today seems totally different. The plastic feels more solid and sturdy, the stick doesn't squeak at all and is much more responsive than the first.
It makes me wonder if the problem isn't quality, but the consistency of quality.

 

[PS4gamer]

I bought one from Amazon and returned it soon after.
I love the idea of using a hotas but the Thrustmaster hotas 4 was very poor, the throttle felt awful and I can't believe it didn't have enough buttons and you still have to do things like "Square + D-pad down" to access certain things which is fine on a PS4 controller but totally unacceptable on a hotas.

I am playing with the PS4 controller now, but should Sony ever make the X-52 compatible or another viable hotas, I will buy it. but the Thrustmaster hotas 4, no. it's simply not up to the job.

 

[Old Duck]

I love my DS4, especially with the extenders. The only thing that drives me nuts is throttle control during combat and Tom Cruise style landings [cool]

Last night my battery was getting a little low, so I turned off the force feedback feature (a good way to greatly extend battery life), and all of the sudden I was very aware of how accustomed I have become to having that feedback. Needless to say I turned it back on as soon as I plugged in.

I also use the gyroscopic head-look all the time. It's tied to my muscle memory now, and I don't think a joystick hat would be a good replacement for me.

All-in-all, I'm very impressed with how Frontier has implemented the DS4 controller!

 

[Fryto]

Interestingly, I just bought a second after getting fed up with the issues (more or less same as OP's) I had with my first Hotas. I decided to buy another one having read many conflicting views about the PS4 Hotas. To my surprise the Hotas I recieved today seems totally different. The plastic feels more solid and sturdy, the stick doesn't squeak at all and is much more responsive than the first.
It makes me wonder if the problem isn't quality, but the consistency of quality.

Thrustmaster isn't exactly known for proper quality products. It's kind of a lottery whether you get a decent piece of kit. I became very weary of Thrustmaster products since I bought their T300 steering wheel. I'm on my 3rd replacement now and unfortunately past the warranty period as this 4th one now loses force feedback after 15 minutes.
The hotas 4, I was tempted to try out, as it's only marginally more expensive than a DS4. But as I quite like the DS4 implementation and presicion, and hearing confirmation that the hotas 4 is another subpar Thrustmaster product, I'll just pass until sticks from other brands become available to use (if any).

 

[OnlyOneMutt]

The Hotas 4 is a fantastic bit of kit, yes its a bit creaky and feels a bit cheap, but guess what? it is cheap. Compared to most if not all the others out there, sometimes you have accept stuff for what it is, but this is functional and when you spend a bit of time with it, remap everything (yes and two key functions as well) to your liking its great. You cant win sometimes, the same people would be moaning the the £300 hotas's "work brilliantly, loads of buttons, great quality, but waaayyyy too expensive"

 

[baphomech]

I can live with the creaking, but the loose throttle is killing me. If I let go for a second, I'm suddenly going full throttle.

Overall though, I still enjoy the immersion it affords over the standard controller.

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

I can live with the creaking, but the loose throttle is killing me. If I let go for a second, I'm suddenly going full throttle.

Overall though, I still enjoy the immersion it affords over the standard controller.

take the throttle apart, and inside you'll find a spring, stretch the spring so it's abount an inch longer, put back togeather, you're good to go. no more slip.

 

[adivarlan]

I can live with the creaking, but the loose throttle is killing me. If I let go for a second, I'm suddenly going full throttle.

Overall though, I still enjoy the immersion it affords over the standard controller.

I don't know what loose throttle you guys are talking about. I bought the Trustmaster HOTAS 4 and i have absolutely no problem with it. Throttle works fine, it stays as i put it, yea the stick makes a squeeshi sound, so what? I have my headsets on and i never hear that sound. For me it beats the dualshock controller for this game in any way.

 

[Nighteyes]

Aye, if the throttle is loose and floppy when you let it go, it's bloody faulty. I was in two minds about whether to take my HOTAS back. But now I can't imagine playing the game without it.

 

[Mr. Stevens Catering]

Can't disagree with any of the criticisms. That said, the first day I played Elite on PC I used k&m and it was a bear. Moved to the Xbox controller and it was way better. Saw Elite was slated for the PS4 and decided to go all in and bought the HOTAS after seeing it was compatible with PC. Started playing with it the day I got it and took a good week to get the "muscles" wired for using it. After that, it was smooth sailing. Don't think I could fly using thumbsticks at this point without at least a month to relearn the feel of the dualshock.

I deal with the creakiness and yeah the throttle is a bit loose if you don't tinker, but it's manageable.

 

[Bo_Granger]

I have been using my TM Hotas X for 2 years and have no complaints. I don't know if things changed with the upgrade to Hotas 4. If my TMHX goes, I'll be in the market for the same unit.

 

[Zenith]

The T-Flight 4 is the same stick as the T-Flight X, just with blue trim and different labels on the buttons.
I have a TF4 on PC, simply because I needed a replacement for my TFX joystick quickly and nowhere locally had a TFX for sale. Maplin had a TF4 available so I got it there and then.

Does it squeak? Yes it does a bit. I don't mind though.
I've gone through 3 joysticks in almost 3 years with ED. It may be the only game I play with sticks, but that's fine as well.

 

[DragonIV]

My Hotas X is still kicking, being used occasionally by one of my sons when he rarely plays. But it held up to the first 700 of my hours, squeaks and all. It's cheap, is terrible for fine control (FAOFF at your own risk), and don't both taking it apart--just as cheap on the inside as the out. Compared to the TM 16000M FCS I have today, it's junk--but it worked fine if you're trading, exploring, mining. Not great for combat, tho.

Still, you can't beat the price if you really want a HOTAS. Multiplexing buttons is not that big of a deal, either. It's just muscle memory, and unlike the T1600M almost every button on the X is easily reachable without removing your hand from the stick or throttle. I definitely recommend it to beginners on a budget.

 

[geo30]

Sorry to drift off topic a bit. I've only ever seen these things with the stick on the right. Are they made for the 10% of the population who are the other way around?

 

[CMDR Lukas Vance]

The T.Flight 4 is the only supported stick in the game, and this only comes in a right hand configuration I'm afraid. There may be left handed sticks out there and you may be able to get them to work with this device, but you'd have to try it yourself.

 

[Jintosh]

Sorry to drift off topic a bit. I've only ever seen these things with the stick on the right. Are they made for the 10% of the population who are the other way around?

Unfortunately, as far as I know they don't do a lefty version... sorry.

 

[geo30]

Ahh well. Thanks guys.
At 40, the old muscle memory is totally ambidextrous for gaming. I tried the southpaw configuration on Battlefield 1 recently. That must've been very funny for everyone in that game for the 20 seconds I lasted!

 

[CMDR DAVID187]

A few weeks ago, I purchased the Thrustmaster from Argos for £47, thinking I was getting a bargain.

First impressions were mixed, mostly because of the build quality and cheap plastic used throughout.

I updated the firmware due to initial calibration issues, configured the bindings and adjusted deadzones for the stick. I had a tough time achieving a setup with high fidelity and no drift - having also tinkered with the stick resistance - but I got there in the end. Thing is, I was never truly happy about the feel of the stick. Noisy too, like proper squeaky. And the throttle..? Worse still, with almost zero resistance between minimum and maximum settings aside from the notch at half-way. Even when configured for forward-only throttle, setting the throttle accurately wasn't really possible. What's the point in using a HOTAS if the controls aren't accurate? And therein lies the real problem with the Thrustmaster - resolution, or lack of it.

Going back to the DualShock after a fortnight with the HOTAS, the difference in fidelity was immediate.

Argos have a consumer-friendly returns policy, so I dropped it off for a refund a few days ago.

It's a shame there's no alternative from Logitech. Having said that, I don't see any benefit to using a HOTAS over a DualShock now, so even if there was a better quality (albeit more expensive) alternative I don't think I would bother. There was no added immersion factor - and that was with the T.Flight attached to my Playseat. For me, a HOTAS only makes sense in VR. Since that's never coming to the current generation of PlayStation, I think I'll stick with the DualShock and its high-resolution sticks, motion-control headlook and built-in rumble feedback.

The Logitech G29 that I use for Project Cars is a world apart in both form and function - the G29 is an absolute necessity when playing Project Cars and feels great to use. I appreciate that the T.Flight is a much cheaper product, but in reality it feels like a toy and doesn't do anything for me immersion-wise. When I have a PC with a VR headset, then a HOTAS will be an absolute necessity. But not a cheap and nasty Thrustmaster, that's for sure.

Try before you buy!

I've had one for about 2 years with no issue, what do you expect for that price lol? if you want a better one stop being cheap then crying here do something about it and go buy a better one!