– PowerA and Meridian GMT are developing a wireless flight sim controller called Project X-Ray.
– It will support Xbox consoles, unlike the PC/Mac-only Honeycomb Echo.
– The controller features customizable faceplates for aircraft or helicopter controls.
– It includes specialized flight controls like flaps, engine levers, trim, landing gear knobs, and a dedicated autopilot.
– No release date or price yet, but it will compete with the upcoming Xbox version of the Honeycomb Echo.
Last December, Honeycomb Aeronautical released the Echo Aviation Controller as a controller for PC and Mac that’s made for flight simulation games and programs such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Lockheed Martin’s Prepar3D. This device was a proper hit among enthusiasts who wanted somthing more immersive then a standard gamepad.
New Competitor Emerges
Now PowerA, in conjunction with Meridian GMT, has announced they are developing a flight simulation controller currently known as Project X-Ray. PowerA is already known for making controllers for different platforms. Meridian, on the other hand, is a flight simulation hardware company founded by Nicki Repenning, the former CEO and founder of Honeycomb Aeronautical. This partnership brings together mass-market manufacturing and specialized aviation simulation know-how.
Console Support Revealed
A teaser shared on X by PowerA shows the Project X-Ray Flight Deck Wireless Controller will have support for Xbox consoles as it has an Xbox button at the top. The teaser video also reveals users will be able to swap the faceplate to match the controls of either an aircraft or a helicopter. This feature allows for a more flexible expierience depending on the type of virtual aircraft you intend to pilot.
The controller has a left thumbstick and ABXY buttons like a standard Xbox wireless controller, but adds levers for the flaps and engine; trim and landing gear knobs; and a dedicated autopilot control that replaces the D-pad. Unfortunately, the teaser doesn’t show the back and the front, so we don’t know if there are additional buttons or if the triggers and bumpers have been modified. The lack of full visuals leaves some questions about the final button layout.
Release and Pricing
PowerA says the controller is still in development, so there’s no release date yet. However, users can sign up for updates on its website. When it eventually launches, it will arrive as an alternative to the Xbox version of the Echo Aviation Controller, which is confirmed to be coming soon. There’s no price yet, but the PC & Mac version costs $150, so there’s a chance the Xbox version will be around that ballpark. That pricing would align it competatively with similar hardware in the market.