For games outside of flight simulation, you can create a virtual joystick wrapper. Download and install (a virtual joystick driver). Download and install Joystick Gremlin .
This means a few things. First, Microsoft no longer provides any official driver updates or technical support for the device. Second, the original software CD that came with the joystick was designed for Windows 98, and the drivers on that disc are 32-bit only, making them completely incompatible with modern 64-bit systems. The last official update to the Sidewinder software appears to have been made around 2008, long before Windows 10 even existed.
Community and Technical Workarounds
If you are running older games on Windows 10, they may not "see" the FFB. This is because Windows 10 uses a newer FFB API, and the old game is looking for legacy drivers. For games outside of flight simulation, you can
Are you a gamer who has been loyal to the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick for years, but has recently upgraded to Windows 10? If so, you may have encountered some issues with getting your trusty joystick to work properly with the new operating system. The good news is that you are not alone, and there are solutions available to get your joystick up and running smoothly with Windows 10.
This comprehensive guide details the state of Windows 10 compatibility, manual installation steps, registry tweaks, and modern telemetry workarounds to bring your iconic hardware back to life. 🛠️ The Reality of Windows 10 Driver Support
: It runs in the background, intercepts the physics data from the game, and sends the correct force signals to your joystick. This means a few things
In MSFS 2020, you may need to "Reverse" certain axes in the sensitivity menu to make the centering spring feel natural. Troubleshooting Common Issues
. Unplug the stick and plug it back in to force a driver refresh. 🎮 Compatible Modern Titles Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020: Requires "XPForce" for full haptics. DCS World:
Right-click on the joystick icon and select "Game Controller Settings." From there, you can click "Properties" to test button presses and axis movements. The last official update to the Sidewinder software
If the light on the base is off, the FFB motor isn't engaged.
Is it worth the effort? For those who already own an MSFF2, absolutely. The precision, build quality, and force feedback fidelity of this joystick still rival—and in many cases exceed—modern alternatives, as noted by many in the community. As one user on the Windows 10 Help Forums put it, the MSFF2 is "so many years old, yet puts most modern sticks to absolute shame".