Ace Combat 8 Controls, HOTAS and VR
Pick a control mode first: Standard turns the jet when you push the stick sideways, Expert rolls and pulls like a real aircraft. Controllers work fully. Flight sticks work, with two officially licensed models, but there is no custom mapping on PC for other sticks. There is no VR mode.
Standard
- Push the left stick left or right and the jet turns
- The intuitive option for newcomers
- Gives up some manoeuvres
Expert
- Left stick rolls, pulling back turns
- The full range of manoeuvres
- Roll and pitch respond with a slight delay
Default controller layout
Xbox buttons, PlayStation in brackets.
| Button | Does |
|---|---|
| Right trigger / left trigger | Throttle up / brake |
| Both triggers together | High-G turn |
| A (Cross) | Gun |
| B (Circle) | Missile |
| X (Square) | Switch weapon |
| Y (Triangle) | Switch target |
| D-pad | Wingman commands |
Wingman commands
- Forward attackWingmen go for targets ahead of you.
- Dispersed attackEach wingman picks targets on their own.
- CoverWingmen go after enemies that lock on to you.
- Special weaponsToggles whether wingmen fire their special weapons.
An order stays in force until you give another.
Flight sticks and HOTAS
Two sticks are licensed for the game: the HORI Ace Combat 8 Flight Stick for PS5, PS4 and PC, at $129.99, with a dedicated High-G button and separate throttle and brake levers; and the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS Neo Ace Combat 8 Edition for PC, PS5 and PS4. Other sticks are hit and miss on PC: some, such as the T.Flight and T16000M, are picked up, others are not, and there is no file or menu for binding your own. That missing mapping is one of the loudest PC complaints.
Keyboard and mouse
Playable on PC, and the keys can be rebound, but a controller is the better fit.
The classic gunsight
If the gun reticle feels wrong, open Settings, then Gameplay, then Targeting Reticule, and choose Type B. It brings back the gunsight from earlier games in the series.
VR and field of view
There is no VR mode on PS5 or PC, and no head tracking on PC; the series' brand director has said VR was considered and dropped. There is also no field-of-view slider. The fix people use for that, and its catch, is on the crash fixes page.