I managed to get the game running with a Thrustmaster T.16000M and Steam Input enabled. However, you can't adjust the sensitivity or remap the buttons in-game... it's completely unplayable. I've switched to using an Xbox controller. I hope they fix everything.

I feel like it could work with a virtual controller (I'm using UCR with ViGem) and HidHide, but we would need to know the full controller mapping to properly map a Hotas, and the game barelly gives anything in settings, idk how even controller players know their controls...

So..."the old method" isn't available in AC8? There is no ini to configure? This would indeed be a dealbreaker...

Originally posted by GODzilla:

So..."the old method" isn't available in AC8? There is no ini to configure? This would indeed be a dealbreaker...

AC7 was not on UE5, so different config files.
I was hoping someone would know how to configure it with the GameUserSettings.ini since UE5 is used a lot, but from what I understand it can be customized by the devs. So until someone figures out what the specific params are for AC8, we're cooked

Not only no supported VR, but it's almost like they went out of their way to make any kind of modding difficult... and the same story for joystick support. I regret buying the PC version so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ much, this is just an awful tease. Brilliant game without even the most utterly basic device support. Between this and Mechwarrior it's starting to feel pretty sad.

There is a guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3810120442

Basically:
- create a virtual device using vJoy
- map your HOTAS input from vjoy device using Joystick Gremlin
- map the vjoy device to Steam input

It's less sexy than direct mapping, but this works.

Originally posted by Creadeyh:

I feel like it could work with a virtual controller (I'm using UCR with ViGem) and HidHide, but we would need to know the full controller mapping to properly map a Hotas, and the game barelly gives anything in settings, idk how even controller players know their controls...

The gamepad layout is simple and consistent across all AC titles. However, I agree—the game's control customization options are absolutely terrible.

Originally posted by Thilus:

Not only no supported VR, but it's almost like they went out of their way to make any kind of modding difficult... and the same story for joystick support. I regret buying the PC version so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ much, this is just an awful tease. Brilliant game without even the most utterly basic device support. Between this and Mechwarrior it's starting to feel pretty sad.

I agree, the developers made some very strange decisions; they had a huge amount of data from AC7 regarding what players wanted and needed, yet they did the exact opposite.

Seems the latest 4.x x360ce works, gotta re-map from scratch and likely broke the old working version though

Copied my own answer I just wrote on reddit:

So the good news for anyone with a half-supported setup is that there is a rather easy fix. For instance if you have a Thrustmaster TWCS (like I do) or other throttles that are supported natively, those will just work. Guess someone needs to compile a list of supported devices.

Then you just to deal with your unsupported joystick, translate it into controller input. You could use Xbox 360 Controller Emulator for instance. The program is pretty self explanatory.

I used it for the first time half an hour ago and already tried it in AC7. First I temporarily erased my input.ini, then I configured the joystick via Xbox 360 Controller Emulator and enabled Steam Input for the game. Started the game, everything works, played two missions. Works for me.

I do hope, for those among us with a more refined throttle setup, there will be other possibilities. I mean, there already is a community guide on Steam for combining two unsupported inputs (HOTAS, HOSAS) and mapping it to a virtual controller, but I'm not gonna lie: Just a quick look over that guide gave me at least a couple of more grey hairs. xD

On AC7 I used a full input.ini mapping, which allows dedicated buttons for high-G, flare, etc. I even had the camera controls mapped to TrackIR. Needing to emulate a controller is a huge step back. Does controller emulation even allow for a full yaw axis?

Originally posted by Creadeyh:

Originally posted by GODzilla:

So..."the old method" isn't available in AC8? There is no ini to configure? This would indeed be a dealbreaker...

AC7 was not on UE5, so different config files.
I was hoping someone would know how to configure it with the GameUserSettings.ini since UE5 is used a lot, but from what I understand it can be customized by the devs. So until someone figures out what the specific params are for AC8, we're cooked

Allegedly this won't be possible without modding. From reddit:
> Seems the game comes with a DIFlightStick plugin with EDIFlightStickVendor for vendor and device logic for Hori, Sony, ThrustMaster, and Logitech only. The device table sits in the encrypted paks, so direct altering will break EAC. It appears the SDK for ThrustMaster is bundled and provides vibration and force-feedback control.

> It also has FlightStickDeviceDataTable, DIFlightStickDeviceData and DIFlightStickDeviceInputSetting, while its axis and button mappings (EDIFlightStickDeviceInputType::X…Slider/POV_*, per-vendor ButtonIndex mapping) are defined per vendor.

Latest addition: AC8 HOTAS Binder

https://www.nexusmods.com/acecombat8wingsoftheve/mods/53?tab=posts&BH=0

Now it is as easy as ever to add your HOTAS to the game. Even easier than with AC7 and it's official support via a text file.

As great as Ace Combatr 8 is, but that is just plain embarassing for Namco Bandai Aces. This is something they could've done themselves, but once again modders save the day.

Just use this and call it a day. Takes 5 seconds and works with online.

https://github.com/Alphonsvds/joystick-mapper

xbox360ce or https://github.com/Alphonsvds/joystick-mapper both let you map your sticks/throttle/etc to an emulated controller and it works well. keep in mind if one of your peripherals is officially supported (thrustmaster for example) then there will be overlap with the binds you set and the default binds for that device unless you hide that device from the game. works for me with a thrustmaster throttle and a vkb gladiator