CONTROLS & HARDWARE / VISUAL FIELD GUIDE
Choose a control layout
Compare keyboard, sticks, throttle, mouse and pedals by what they let you do.
01
STEP 1 OF 5
Start with the controls you own
Extra hardware is optional, and each new input adds setup.
- 1
Start with the controls you own
Choose one familiar keyboard-and-mouse task to learn before changing your whole layout.
What you should seeYou can describe which input you want to improve.
RSI peripheral keybindings, updated 17 February 2026; checked 14 October 2026That did not happen
If the game action is unclear, learn its current binding first. Buying another controller does not explain the action.
Read the complete guide as text
The same published instructions in one readable view. Use the steps above for controls and practice panels.
Start with the controls you own
Extra hardware is optional, and each new input adds setup.
Start with the controls you own
Choose one familiar keyboard-and-mouse task to learn before changing your whole layout.
Expected result: You can describe which input you want to improve.
If it did not work: If the game action is unclear, learn its current binding first. Buying another controller does not explain the action.
Separate turning from translation
A ship can face one direction while moving another.
Separate turning from translation
Name the three rotations and three translation directions before assigning physical axes.
Expected result: Your plan has a deliberate place for all six movement directions.
If it did not work: Two two-axis sticks provide four axes, not six. Use additional suitable axes or buttons for the remaining movements.
- Rotation
- Pitch moves the nose up/down, yaw turns it left/right, and roll rotates around the forward direction.
- Translation
- Forward/back, left/right and up/down movement. These are separate from turning the ship.
Pick a layout for your hands
The best fit depends on the input you want to control physically.
Pick a layout for your hands
Compare the layout options below and choose one to try, keeping keyboard access for other actions.
Expected result: Your choice has a practical reason and a known compromise.
If it did not work: These are suggested layouts, not a performance ranking or a manufacturer recommendation.
- HOTAS: throttle and stick
- A stick handles rotation while a throttle supplies a lever and switches. Other translation directions still need suitable inputs.
- HOSAS: two sticks
- One usually handles rotation and the other translation. Enough physical axes are needed for the intended map.
- Stick and mouse
- Keep familiar mouse aiming while assigning movement to a stick. Plan roll and the transition back to on-foot controls.
- Keyboard and mouse
- A complete starting option. Ordinary movement keys are on/off, so short presses and suitable game limits help with small adjustments.
Give pedals one clear job
Pedal sets expose different axis arrangements.
Give pedals one clear job
If you use pedals, choose one intended action for a verified pedal axis before adding other functions.
Expected result: Moving that axis has a single predictable purpose.
If it did not work: A sliding rudder axis and toe axes are not interchangeable. Check your device's own connection and calibration instructions.
Write a small starter map
A short personal card is easier to learn than every possible shortcut.
Write a small starter map
Write your chosen input beside movement, interaction, looking around and the main action for this lesson.
Expected result: You can find those actions without searching a long profile.
If it did not work: Treat a suggested two-stick map as a starting preference. Adapt handedness and reach to your setup instead of copying a device you do not own.
- Suggested rotation stick
- Forward/back for pitch, left/right for yaw, twist or a separate suitable axis for roll. This is not an RSI default.
- Suggested translation stick
- Forward/back and left/right for matching translation; a third axis or another suitable input for up/down.
Sources & guide information
Official sources checked 14 October 2026. Documented guidance and labelled suggestions; no hands-on test claimed.. Reference information, not a claim of current-patch playtesting.
RSI peripheral keybindings, updated 17 February 2026; checked 14 October 2026