The Joys and Frustrations of Playing War Thunder on Xbox with a Joystick

War Thunder, the popular online aerial combat game, has finally made its way to the Xbox platform, allowing gamers to experience the thrill of dogfighting from the comfort of their living rooms. However, for those who prefer to play with a joystick rather than a controller, the experience can be quite frustrating.

For example, performing simple maneuvers like loops and rolls becomes impossible without the assistance of an AI-controlled plane or by setting the Assistant feature to 'on.' This makes it difficult to evade enemy planes or engage in dogfights with opponents who have access to higher-level flying skills. The inability to use a joystick also limits one's ability to play the game 100% free, as the premium PS4 service is required for full access.

One of the most significant drawbacks of playing War Thunder on Xbox is the lack of support for external devices, such as joysticks and keyboard-and-mouse (K&M) combinations. This limitation can be attributed to Microsoft's policy of controlling access to accessories and upgrades, which allows them to retain a larger share of the gaming market.

Fortunately, there are still ways to work around this limitation. Many gamers have discovered clever methods for modding their controllers or using third-party software to emulate K&M controls on Xbox. While these solutions may not offer the same level of precision as playing with a dedicated joystick or keyboard-and-mouse setup, they can still provide an enjoyable gaming experience.

In conclusion, while War Thunder's transition to Xbox has its drawbacks, it is still possible to have fun playing the game using a controller. For those who prefer a more precise control scheme, however, the lack of support for external devices and K&M combinations may be a significant disappointment. As the game continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft addresses these limitations and provides gamers with the options they desire.

War thunder xbox joystick